Churches, mosques and other houses of worship have given shelter and food to hundreds of Sacramento's homeless since the start of December. But now the inaugural year of Sacramento's Winter Sanctuary Program is over.
Mayor Kevin Johnson calls the program a success.
"But our goal is to ramp it up and be even more successful next year," Johnson said.
He says the winter sanctuary costs a quarter of the price of
an overflow shelter and provides temporary housing to hundreds of
homeless people.
But others are worried about the future of the five hundred
people that relied on the Winter Sanctuary Program. John
Kraintz is the President of the illegal homeless camp
Safeground.
"They'll be on the streets, they'll be on the river, and
they'll be wherever they can find a place to try to stay out of
sight and try to sleep," Kraintz said.
Kraintz says all of the city's shelters have long waiting
lists.
Mayor Johnson says the city is looking at permanent housing
solutions for Sacramento's homeless.