Sacramento City Council votes to keep some shelters open year-round regardless of weather Share Updated: 9:05 AM PST Mar 10, 2021 Share Updated: 9:05 AM PST Mar 10, 2021 Hide Transcript Show Transcript DEIRDRE: WELCOME BACK. NO MORE DEBATE OVER TEMPERATURES OR OTHER WEATHER FACTORS. SACRAMENTO NOW HAS 3 OVERNIG SHELTERS FOR THE HOMELESS OPEN EVERY NIGHT. TEO: KCRA 3’S LETICIA ORDAZ IS LIVE DOWNTOWN WITH MORE ON WHAT THAT MEANS AND COSTS. LETICIA: GOOD MORNING. THE MAYOR OF SACRAMENTO SAYS IT WILL COST MILLIONS OF DOLLARS BUT IT IS A TOP PRIORITY TO GET HOMELESS OFF THE STREETS, AND NOT JUST IN DOWNTOWN SACRAMENTO. HE WANTS TO EXPAND THESE SHELTERS TO OTHER PARTS OF THE CITY. SO FAR, THERE ARE 80 PEOPLE EVERY NIGHT WHO STAY THE NIGHT AT THE SHELTERS THAT HAVE BEEN SET UP AT THE LIBRARY GALLERIA, CITY HALL PARKING GARAGE DOWNTOWN, ALONG WITH CAPITAL SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTIST CHURCH. COUNCILMEMBERS VOTED TO APPROVE A BUDGET OF $3 MILLION TO SPEND ON THE EFFORT THROUGH JUNE 30TH. EVEN WITH COVID CONCERNS AFTER RECENT OUTBREAKS, THE CITY COUNCIL VOTED TO APPROVE YEAR ROUND CENTERS FOR THE HOMELESS. THE MAYOR SAYS WITHOUT A PLACE FOR THEM TO GO THE CHRONIC PROBLEM CANNOT BE FIXED. >> WE CANNOT PROVIDE MENTAL HEALTH AND SUBSTANCE ABUSE TREATMENT AND CARE FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE LIVING UNDER A BRIDGE OR UNDER THE FREEWAY. OR LIVING IN SQUALOR. WE CANNOT GET TO THEM. I WANT TO USE EVERY PUBLIC AND PRIVATE SPACE WE CAN TO BRING PEOPLE INDOORS. LET’S USE YOU LARGE ACREAGE, NOT THE MIDDLE OF BUSINESS CORRIDORS OR RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOODS. LETICIA: THE MAYOR SAYS THE LONG-TERM GOAL IS TO GET PEOPLE IN THINGS LIKE TINY HOMES AND PERMANENT HOUSING, BUT HE CALLS LAST NIGHT’S VOTE A GOOD START. THE LETI