Learn more about the year-round shelter
About Elk Grove's Homeless Population
The City has one of the lowest rates of homelessness in Sacramento County. While the 2024 Point-in-Time Count found 83 people experiencing homelessness within City borders, staff estimates there to be closer to 125 on any given night based on data from the City’s homeless navigation team, Elk Grove Police Department, and several nonprofit service providers. The City's homeless services navigators work with people to connect them to resources that meet their specific needs, from mental health treatment to LGBTQ-friendly shelters.
The below Local Homelessness Dashboard offers insight into the efforts of the Homeless Outreach and Navigation Team.
Local Homelessness Dashboard
January 1 – September 30, 2025
These numbers are cross-referenced from the City’s Homeless Outreach and Navigation Program and the Homeless Management Information System (HMIS).
68 Unique individuals supported by the Homeless Outreach and Navigation Team from January 1, 2025, to September 30, 2025.
282 Navigation services provided to homeless clients. The types of services provided include but are not limited to connection to mental health resources, documentation assistance, affordable housing referrals, food services, life skills training, and transportation.
579 Calls resolved from the Homeless Navigation Hotline.
Homeless Response System
Persons or Families Seeking Help
Email or call (916) 588-0304
- Must have a tie to Elk Grove
- Meet the Homeless Services Navigation Team's criteria
- People found camping outdoors or living in their vehicle are vetted in real time
Eligible individuals/families will be:
- Referred to the Transitional Housing Program (City-owned properties), Affordable housing partner properties
- Adults: Referred to Elk Grove Shelter, Permanent Housing Program (City-owned properties)
- Families with at least one minor: Referral to Emergency Motel Stay Program
If the criteria are not met, the individual or family will be referred to eligible resources outside of Elk Grove.
Community Inquiries
Inquiries related to homelessness:
Contact the Homeless Hotline: Email or call (916) 588-0304
Report an unhoused person or concern:
- Crime related: Report to EGPD Homeless Outreach Team
- Not crime related: Reach out to the Homeless Services Navigation Team: Email or call (916) 588-0304
Feedback, concerns, questions, or desire to donate/volunteer:
Connect with local community organizations and services
Emergency Motel Stay Program
The City funds EG HART to provide short-term motel stays for unhoused Elk Grove households with no other shelter options. The program prioritizes families with children and can also assist highly vulnerable adults when shelters are full. City Navigators refer eligible households, and both the City and EG HART support participants in moving toward permanent housing.
Unlike the current shelter, the future location will accommodate up to 4 families with modular room configurations to support a range of family types.
Elk Grove Emergency Shelter
- 30 adult beds
- 5 emergency beds
- Open 24/7
- Operated by The Gathering Inn
Transitional Housing Program
- 6–18 month stays with case management focused on transitioning to permanent housing
- Support includes crisis intervention, life-skills training, and employment assistance
- One single family home primarily serving adult households and two single family homes dedicated to serving families with at least one minor
- Operated by Volunteers of America
Permanent Housing
- Independent living with supportive services available as needed
- Provides long-term housing stability
- Three properties offering shared-home living for adults and one property dedicated for seniors (55+)
- Operated by Volunteers of America
Elk Grove Affordable Housing Partnership
The City supports the creation of affordable housing by providing low-interest, long-term loans to developers. These homes offer subsidized rents that ease the financial burden on low-income households and help prevent homelessness. Priority is given to eligible Elk Grove households experiencing homelessness when vacancies are available.
Current Strategies
The City is working hard to address the impact of homelessness. In the last several years, the following local resources were developed:
Homeless Services Navigators
The City has two full-time homeless services navigators. The navigators work to identify and build relationships with people experiencing homelessness, meeting them out in the community and where they are staying. Some of the services that the Navigators provide are:
- Assessments for shelter or housing
- Connections to mental health resources and other social services
- Assistance with obtaining IDs, financial benefits, and mobile phones
- Transportation to important health appointments, housing resources, mental health support at the CORE Wellness Center, etc.
If you would like the City’s homeless navigation team to reach out to a person you believe is homeless, call (916) 588-0304. Please provide a description of the person and where they are staying or where you have seen them.
Transitional Housing for Families and Adults
Transitional housing is temporary housing (3-18 months) with case management and mentoring to help people stabilize and find permanent housing. The City currently owns two houses for families and one house for adults.
Permanent Housing
The City provides low-interest, long-term loans to affordable housing developers. Affordable housing complexes offer units at subsidized rents, relieving the financial burden of housing costs and preventing low-income households from falling into homelessness. Affordable housing developments sometimes include permanent supportive housing (PSH) units, which are frequently rented to people exiting street homelessness. More than 1,000 units of affordable housing in Elk Grove are under construction or in planning phases.
Elk Grove Police Department Crisis Intervention Response Teams
Elk Grove PD also has two Crisis Intervention Response Teams each consisting of an officer and a licensed mental health counselor who can respond to calls involving people with a mental health crisis. These teams assist many homeless individuals, although they are available to respond to any mental health-related calls.
Year-Round Shelter
The Year-Round Shelter serves up to 30 unhoused residents per night and has 5 additional emergency beds. The Gathering Inn, a nonprofit based in Placer County, operates the program.
Motel Vouchers for Families
Through a partnership with Elk Grove HART, the City can provide families experiencing homelessness with a voucher to stay at a motel in addition to case management and mentorship services to obtain housing and services.
Elk Grove Police Department Homeless Outreach Team
The Police Department has two full-time problem-oriented policing (POP) officers focused on homelessness. Their non-emergency line is (916) 714-5115. In emergencies and dangerous situations, please call 911.
Encampment Clean Up
Homeless encampments can contain hazards that pose a threat to the local quality of life. The Police Department, Public Works Department, and Code Enforcement Division work together to clear camps located on city property.
Encampments on private property must be cleared by the property manager. Property owners who do not thoroughly clean encampments may be subject to Code Enforcement action. Union Pacific Railroad Police are responsible for clearing encampments on railroad property. To report a homeless encampment, call the Police Department non-emergency number at (916) 714-5115 or report an issue through the City's website.
Cleaning up of homeless encampments may take up to three weeks to complete. Trespass notices or similar notifications may require multiple trips to the site to connect with subjects staying there. Once contact is made, resources for assistance are provided to these individuals who have at least 24 hours to pack up their belongings and leave the area.
Weekly clean-ups are coordinated for encampments on city property.
Local Partnerships
Elk Grove HART (Homeless Assistance Resource Team)
Elk Grove HART is a volunteer-based, non-profit organization that assists people experiencing homelessness toward self-sufficiency and greater independence. They work in collaboration with the City and provide mentorship, move-in assistance and more.
CORE Wellness Center
The CORE Wellness Center has two components: a CORE Outpatient Program that provides outpatient behavioral health services for adults with a qualifying diagnosis and a Community Wellness Center that provides individual support and group treatment to all (adult) members of the community. The CORE Wellness Center is operated by Turning Point Community Programs.
Elk Grove Food Bank
The Elk Grove Food Bank distributes food and clothes Monday through Saturday (except for the 4th Wednesday of the month). It also distributes pet food, helps clients pay utility bills, and offers services for seniors.
Christy Cares Outreach
Christy Cares Outreach serves free lunch on Tuesdays and Thursdays at Elk Grove United Methodist church.
Transitional Housing and Shelter for Transition Age Youth (TAY)
Waking the Village provides housing, case management, and intensive support services to homeless, parenting, or pregnant youth and/or LGBTQ youth between the ages of 18 and 24 and their children.
Safe Haven for Victims of Domestic Violence
In partnership with the City, My Sister’s House provides transitional housing and comprehensive case management services to victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, and human trafficking.
Partnership with Elk Grove Animal Services
This partnership offers free spay/neuter services, assistance with vaccinations, microchipping, licensing, and provides supplies to pet owners (i.e., leashes, collars, food, crates, portable pet food/water bottles).
Humanitarian Action Network
The Humanitarian Action Network frequently delivers nourishment in the form lunches, coffee and other beverages, and other needed items directly to encampments.
Strategies in Progress
Prevention Efforts
As part of Measure E, the City is looking to proactively provide one-time assistance to households at risk of homelessness to prevent that experience.
Homeless Shelter
The City is in the process of developing a permanent homeless shelter to better serve residents experiencing homelessness.