Rio Linda Online News
  • Support Local News
  • Organizations
  • About Rio Linda Online
    • Our Editorial Team
    • Ownership and Funding Information
    • Corrections Policy
    • Rio Linda Messenger Ethics Policy
      • Society of Professional Journalists Code of Ethics
    • Fact-Checking Policy
    • Right to be Forgotten Policy
Thursday, July 10, 2025
  • Login
  • TipLineNEW!
  • News
    • News Briefs
    • The Big Picture
    • Tech News
    • Video
  • Local
    • RLE Parks Activity Guide
    • RLE Parks Events
    • RLE Parks Programs
    • RLE Parks Registration
    • RLE Parks Contact
  • Sports
  • Business
    • AdvertisingNEW!
  • Opinion
    • Community Voices
  • Community Calendar
  • Obituaries
  • Podcast
  • DonateNEW!
    • Donors
No Result
View All Result
  • TipLineNEW!
  • News
    • News Briefs
    • The Big Picture
    • Tech News
    • Video
  • Local
    • RLE Parks Activity Guide
    • RLE Parks Events
    • RLE Parks Programs
    • RLE Parks Registration
    • RLE Parks Contact
  • Sports
  • Business
    • AdvertisingNEW!
  • Opinion
    • Community Voices
  • Community Calendar
  • Obituaries
  • Podcast
  • DonateNEW!
    • Donors
No Result
View All Result
Rio Linda Online News
No Result
View All Result
Home News

The Path to Eliminating Illegal Homeless Camps

by RioLindaOnlineStaff
3 years ago
in News
0
The Path to Eliminating Illegal Homeless Camps
Supervisor Sue Frost

We are all aware that the county’s homeless population has been growing and we can see the impacts every time we leave our houses. As we continue to tackle homelessness, we run into challenges at almost every turn including state laws, court decisions, pandemics, and judicial rulings. That being the case, we are constantly adapting our approach and, I am happy to say, enhancing the ways we try to solve the homeless problem.

The solutions we have put forward include increased access to treatment for mental health and drugs and alcohol addiction, and we are increasing our outreach to connect people to those services. While treatment for mental illness and addiction is the best thing we can do to help people get off the streets, it will never be enough on its own. We have to do more than treat the root causes and offer options that help connect people to services and get them into safer environments. For that reason, Sacramento County is moving forward with a plan to establish sanctioned encampments throughout the county, and shutting down the illegal encampments.

A sanctioned encampment is almost certainly what you think it is: an area designated by the county for homeless individuals to live/camp legally and safely. While this may not sound like something you want to get excited about and might even concern you, I believe this is the best thing we can do at this time. First, Sacramento County cannot get back to enforcing ordinances that prevent camping on public land until we can offer an alternative due to a decision at the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals. Second, a sanctioned encampment is far preferable to unregulated camping.

We have learned from the failures of other sanctioned sites and intend to keep the county’s new sites staffed at all times, regulated to prevent drug use and other criminal behavior, and we will put them in the areas that will see the greatest benefit. By areas that will receive the greatest benefit, I mean the areas currently being the most heavily impacted by unchecked campsites. While many people may jump to the conclusion that the best place to put a sanctioned site is as far from developed areas as possible, the real best approach is to find locations that are near where large groups of homeless people are already dwelling. This ensures we get the most people we can living in sanctioned encampments because it is an area they already have a connection to.

Most importantly, sanctioned encampments are more than just a place for homeless individuals to sleep. We will be using them as an opportunity to connect individuals to the services we know they need to get into transitional or permanent housing and back to a self-sustaining lifestyle. Sanctioned encampments will have the benefit of being staffed by mental health and behavioral health professionals that can get at the issues that are keeping so many people trapped in homelessness. Regardless of whether or not substance abuse or mental illness is the cause of a person’s homelessness, for many it has become part of what prevents them from escaping homelessness.

Again, while this may not sound ideal to some, and I am sure there are people who are worried that one of these encampments will be near where they live, shop, or dine, I am confident this is the right move. Fewer homeless individuals making campsites around the county is a good thing. Increasing outreach and connection to drug/alcohol treatment and mental health services is a good thing. And getting the power back to shut down illegal camping sites all over the County is also a good thing. These sanctioned encampments are the balance between compassion and toughness my constituents have been telling me they support for as long as I have been a Supervisor. This is just one of many important steps we must take as part of our comprehensive approach to relieving the County’s homeless crisis. 

Thank you for reading – and as always, if you want to contact me, call me at 916-874-5491, or e-mail me at SupervisorFrost@saccounty.net.

Sacramento County Supervisor Sue Frost represents the 4th District, which includes the communities of Citrus Heights, Folsom, Orangevale, Antelope, North Highlands, Rio Linda, Elverta, and Rancho Murieta.

RioLindaOnlineStaff

RioLindaOnlineStaff

The Rio Linda Online is the Local, Independent, Online News website for Rio Linda, Elverta, North Highlands, Natomas, Antelope, and the rest of Northern Sacramento County.

Related Posts

Evacuations Lifted After Human-Caused Fire Burns Near Dry Creek Road

Evacuations Lifted After Human-Caused Fire Burns Near Dry Creek Road

July 8, 2025
First Dead Birds of Season Test Positive for West Nile in our Area

First Dead Birds of Season Test Positive for West Nile in our Area

July 7, 2025
Placer County Aerial Insecticide Spraying Planned

Aerial Larvicide Treatment in West Placer County Scheduled for June 26-27

June 25, 2025
Grass Fire Breaks Out in Rio Linda

Grass Fire Breaks Out in Rio Linda

June 24, 2025
Metro Fire installs Smoke Alarms in Belcamp Neighborhood

Metro Fire Marshal Clarifies Weed Abatement Rules and Reporting for Rio Linda Residents

June 17, 2025
Rio Linda Celebrates Inspiring Graduate Xavier Breazell

Rio Linda Celebrates Inspiring Graduate Xavier Breazell

June 17, 2025
Next Post
Rely on Sober Drivers, Not Luck on This St. Patty’s Day

Rely on Sober Drivers, Not Luck on This St. Patty's Day

AdBlocker Message

Our website is made possible by displaying online advertisements from local Rio Linda and Elverta merchants to our visitors. Please consider supporting us by disabling your ad blocker.

Buy us a Coffee?

Rio Linda Online News

914 Oak Ln #3
Rio Linda, CA 95673
916-289-6436
Contact/Feedback
Submit Story Idea

About

About Rio Linda Online
Advertising
CA PC 409.5
California Public Notice Law
Corrections Policy
Crime & Safety Contacts
Fact-Checking Policy
Frequently Asked Questions

Contact

Anniversary Announcement
Birth Announcement
Letter To The Editor
Obituary
Submit Story Idea
Wedding Announcement

Our Portfolio

Rio Linda Online
Rio Linda News
RioLinda.Net
RioLindaElvertaNews.com
RioLindaOnlineNews.com

  • About
  • Advertise
  • Careers
  • Contact

© 2025 RioLindaOnline.com

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In
No Result
View All Result
  • TipLine
  • News
    • News Briefs
    • The Big Picture
    • Tech News
    • Video
  • Local
    • RLE Parks Activity Guide
    • RLE Parks Events
    • RLE Parks Programs
    • RLE Parks Registration
    • RLE Parks Contact
  • Sports
  • Business
    • Advertising
  • Opinion
    • Community Voices
  • Community Calendar
  • Obituaries
  • Podcast
  • Donate
    • Donors

© 2025 RioLindaOnline.com