OUR APPROACH
The City of Citrus Heights is dedicated to compassionately supporting unsheltered individuals and families while upholding our steadfast commitment to the health and safety of the entire community.
The City of Citrus Heights has developed a range of programs and resources to assist and connect unhoused residents in need. Community feedback has been instrumental in shaping strategies and programs, ensuring they evolve to meet the needs of both housed and unhoused residents. Our approach is comprehensive: we offer supportive programming while enforcing laws to maintain public safety. This includes enforcing the law for those who engage in illegal activities, such as illegal camping, dumping, and nuisance ordinance offenses. This approach, which combines supportive programming with accountability tools, demonstrates our unwavering commitment to balancing compassion for individuals experiencing homelessness with the need to uphold public order and safety to support the overall quality of life for all residents and businesses.
The Citrus Heights Police Department’s Problem-Oriented Policing (POP) Unit plays a crucial role in addressing homelessness-related concerns in our community. This dedicated team enforces local ordinances, partners with service providers, and works directly with residents to improve quality of life. By combining enforcement with outreach, the POP team ensures a balanced approach that prioritizes both public safety and compassionate solutions.
If you see encampments or other concerns impacting the community, reporting them helps drive action. The POP Unit works closely with residents to address these issues, ensuring a proactive response. To report concerns, email pop@citrusheights.net or call non-emergency dispatch at (916) 727-5500. Your reports play a vital role in keeping Citrus Heights clean, safe, and thriving.
Additionally, Sacramento County provides Health Services, Homeless Services and Housing, and Human Assistance. Unhoused individuals are encouraged to utilize county services intended to help address the cycle of homelessness. Any unhoused individual is encouraged to work with City Staff, Police Officers, and/or program representatives to locate shelter and other resources available throughout the region.
By working together, we can continue to advance the quality of life for our residents and businesses and uphold Citrus Heights as a safe, healthy, and inclusive community for all.
OUR IMPACT
Citrus Heights is committed to creating a safe and inclusive community. We focus on improving public safety, addressing homelessness prevention, and effectively managing blight. We collaborate closely with our community to achieve these goals and ensure a secure and healthy environment for all residents. Examples of collaboration success include:
- Beginning in October 2023, the City partnered with the Sacramento County Department of Homeless Services and Housing (DHSH) to deliver a Street Outreach Program for unhoused individuals in Citrus Heights. In the first seven months of operation, the program has enrolled 95 individuals in services and housed 24 individuals. Read the announcement here.
- Beginning in October 2023, the City partnered with DHSH to deliver a Street Outreach Program for unhoused individuals in Citrus Heights. The program is operated by Community HealthWorks, a nonprofit that addresses some of the most complicated issues and removes barriers so that all people have an opportunity to be healthy and lead a life of dignity and humanity.
- In 2023, the City of Citrus Heights celebrated the completion of Sunrise Pointe, a 46-unit apartment project that provides permanent supportive housing for those in need due to homelessness, mental health issues, or other needs.
- The City of Citrus Heights City Council awarded a Community Projects Grant to assist with the reopening of the Underground Clothing Connection operated by the Citrus Heights Homeless Assistance Resource Team to provide clothing donations to at-risk youth.
- Sunrise Christian Food Ministry is supported via multiple grant awards in its various efforts to provide services to persons experiencing food insecurities. It is open Monday through Friday from 11 AM to 2 PM and is located at 5901 San Juan Avenue.
City Staff and service partners continue to explore opportunities for innovative programming and solutions that support unhoused residents and advance homelessness prevention.
