Greetings Citrus Heights Community,

As your City Manager, I want to acknowledge the tremendous efforts and ongoing work dedicated to homelessness prevention in Citrus Heights. Community feedback has been instrumental in shaping our strategies and programs, ensuring they evolve to meet the needs of both housed and unhoused residents. Recent policy developments, including the significant Supreme Court ruling on the City of Grants Pass case, have reinforced our proactive approach to managing and preventing issues related to homelessness. In this message, I offer an update on our local efforts.

Sacramento County is the agency for our area that provides Health and Human Services, Homeless Services and Housing, and Human Assistance. Unhoused individuals are encouraged to take county services intended to help address the cycle of homelessness. In collaboration, Citrus Heights city staff, police officers, and program representatives encourage unhoused individuals to utilize these essential services to break the cycle of homelessness, and we are always ready to assist in connecting to resources that are available throughout the county. In addition to connecting to services, the city is responsible for ensuring accountability for unlawful actions. Our approach is comprehensive: we offer supportive programming while enforcing laws to maintain public safety. This includes addressing illegal activities such as camping, unlawful storage of personal property in public spaces, dumping, and chronic nuisance offenses. By balancing compassion with accountability, we uphold our commitment to helping individuals experiencing homelessness while preserving public order and safety.

Recent Developments: Grants Pass Supreme Court Ruling

In a landmark decision, the United States Supreme Court has ruled that the City of Grants Pass did not violate the Constitution’s prohibition against cruel and unusual punishment when enforcing anti-camping ordinances against homeless individuals. This decision overturned the 2018 Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals ruling in Martin v. Boise, which had barred cities from enforcing public-camping ordinances if the number of homeless individuals exceeded the available shelter beds. The Supreme Court’s ruling clarifies that the Eighth Amendment’s Cruel and Unusual Punishments Clause is not applicable in challenging local ordinances regulating public camping, thereby granting cities greater authority in managing public spaces.

For the City of Citrus Heights, the Supreme Court’s decision is a significant endorsement of local control over homelessness prevention and blight abatement initiatives. Homelessness is a multifaceted issue, and the appropriate policy responses are diverse and evolving. The Supreme Court’s decision reaffirms that local governments have the primary responsibility and authority to devise and implement solutions tailored to their unique circumstances.

Citrus Heights is committed to using this restored authority to balance compassion for individuals experiencing homelessness with the need to maintain public order and safety. The city will continue to prioritize implementing innovative and effective strategies to support housed and unhoused residents, striving for a community where everyone can thrive.

Increased Enforcement and Policy Initiatives

Over the last two years, our team has developed innovative programming (like the Beautification Crew) to help address blight and community image issues. Given the recent Supreme Court ruling affirming local control to address these issues, there will be increased accountability for violations of the law.

The Citrus Height Police Department strives to connect individuals experiencing homelessness with services but is also charged with bringing accountability through law enforcement, including enforcement of the following:

• Illegal Camping Ordinance: Strict enforcement of regulations against illegal camping to maintain public safety and order.
• Illegal Dumping Ordinance: Regular enforcement helps keep our community clean and free from health hazards.
• Shopping Cart Ordinance: We actively retrieve abandoned shopping carts to prevent blight and ensure a tidy community.

Collaboration to Provide Resources

The City of Citrus Heights is dedicated to compassionately supporting unsheltered individuals and families while upholding our steadfast commitment to the health and safety of the entire community. Since October 2023, our partnership with the Sacramento County Department of Homeless Services and Housing (DHSH) has enhanced our Street Outreach Program. The Street Outreach Program, operated by Community HealthWorks, provides a full-time Community Health Worker (CHW) to connect unhoused individuals with various supportive services, including emergency shelter, housing, supplies, and other resources. In the first seven months of operation, the program has enrolled 95 individuals in services and housed 24 individuals. We are grateful to Community HealthWorks for its mission-oriented approach and strategic partnership, which is truly making a difference in our community.

How You Can Help

We encourage residents and businesses to be proactive in reporting homelessness-related issues.

• To help connect an unhoused individual to resources, call 2-1-1 and press 8 for information on services and to connect with a Community Health Worker.

An individual can also visit either of the below locations for access to services, assessment and to begin the intake process:

• Monday onsite at Living Water Church (7605 Lauppe Ln) from 1 pm to 3 pm.
• Most Tuesdays near the Stock Ranch Nature Preserve (7000 Auburn Blvd) from 3 pm to 4 pm.
• To report illegal camping, nuisances, or illegal dumping: Call the Citrus Heights Police Department non-emergency number at (916) 727-5500.
• To report a crime in progress, dangerous nuisance, or suspicious activity: Call 911.
• Interested in volunteering? Here are a few ways you can get involved: 
• Be involved in Citrus Heights Homeless Assistance Resource Team (HART).
• Be involved in Citrus Heights Collaborative.

By working together, we can continue to advance the quality of life for our residents and businesses and uphold Citrus Heights as a safe, healthy, and inclusive community for all.

In your service,