Quick update on shelter this winter

I was able to hear only the last two minutes of Sacramento Mayor Kevin Johnson's 17 minute, 10:45am news conference outside City Hall, but that was enough to gather some important news:

Shelter this winter for the homeless will add 269 beds. That is a stunning achievement, more than th 150 beds added early last winter and in winters past and more than the 200 beds that existed at Winter Shelter at Cal Expo last spring, from April 6 to June 30.

In addition there will be a modest number of motel vouchers to supplement the 269 beds this winter.

There will be an event on November 5 providing additional information about winter shelter and safe ground.

Update. Other sources of news about shelter this winter and safe ground from facts revealed today:

Sacramento Bee article posted before the mayor's news conference, "Sacramento Mayor Kevin Johnson proposes plan to shelter homeless" 10:18am
KCRA channel 3 report: "Money Found For Homeless Shelter Beds." 12:38pm $500,000 found to fund shelter space, from city, county and federal govt. Locations for the shelter beds are still being worked out.
Sacramento Business Journal: "Mayor Johnson unveils plan for winter shelter." 2:26pm [Plan will also] "help more than 100 families move from shelters into permanent housing." [Funds come also from] "local service providers and private donations." "The City Council and county Board of Supervisors are expected to approve the proposal next week." "Locations will be ready for use around the city, in the county and throughout the region by November."
News 10: "Sacramento Announces Winter Shelter Plan for Homeless."
CBS 13: "Mayor Johnson Reveals Winter Homeless Shelter Plan."
From the Capitol blog: "Sacramento homeless will have shelters this winter."
KJFM - Mayor Kevin Johnson's blog "Homelessness program to house over 200 this winter." "Given the desperate conditions of state, county and city budgets in California, our ability to create emergency winter housing is a triumph of hard work and cooperation."
Sacramento Bee, "Sacramento-area homeless plan needs funds," "…there's still another barrier to cross: persuading local governments to cut a few checks."

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