Sacramento County Secures $1 Million Federal Grant for Florin Road Safe Stay Community
Congresswoman Doris Matsui secured and presented Sacramento County with a $1 million grant on Oct. 6 at the Florin Road Safe Stay Community to support local rehousing operations, saccounty.gov reported. The funding arrives as local officials work to transition individuals from street encampments into stable, individual-occupancy shelters equipped with supportive services.
The road from being housed to unhoused and back again involves unpredictable turns, environmental factors, and support systems that dictate an individual’s ability to maintain housing. Many people face catastrophic life events without familial safety nets to assist with bills, food, childcare, or transportation. Local agencies and nonprofit partners rely on a mix of state, federal, and local funds to address these challenges through targeted sheltering models.
Evolution of the Florin Road Tiny Home Campus
Opened in August 2023, the Florin Road site serves as Sacramento County’s first tiny home campus and individual-occupancy-style shelter. The County developed this sheltering model following the success of Project Roomkey during the COVID-19 pandemic. Officials shifted their strategy to prioritize features unhoused residents requested: privacy, a locking door, and accommodations for partners, pets, and personal possessions.
The facility operates near the neighborhoods where recipients previously camped to preserve their existing support networks. Five Keys manages day-to-day operations at the campus. The site has served more than 614 people since opening, achieving a 35% successful outcome rate.
Pivotal Funding Amid Dwindling Resources
District 2 Sacramento County Supervisor Patrick Kennedy noted that the funding arrives at a critical moment when funding is rapidly diminishing. The $1 million secured by Congresswoman Matsui will expand the County’s capacity to move residents from street encampments to shelters and permanent housing.
This infusion of critical funding comes at a pivotal moment in Sacramento County’s mission to continue its success in addressing homelessness in impactful and unique ways,
Supervisor Patrick Kennedy said, expressing gratitude for the federal advocacy.
Heather Calomese, President and CEO of Florin Road Safe Stay, emphasized the foundational role of meeting basic needs to build a stable future. At Florin Safe Stay, we are providing people with something critically important: a safe place to begin again,
Calomese stated.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Florin Road Safe Stay Community
Who operates the Florin Road Safe Stay Community?
Five Keys manages day-to-day operations at the Sacramento County tiny home campus. The site opened in August 2023 as the County’s first individual-occupancy shelter.
How many people has the Florin Road facility served?
The campus has served more than 614 individuals since opening its doors, maintaining a 35% successful outcome rate in transitioning residents toward stable housing.
When was the $1 million federal grant presented to the County?
Congresswoman Doris Matsui presented the $1 million grant to Sacramento County on Oct. 6 at the Florin Road Safe Stay Community location.
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