More than 80 people who needed warm places to stay took advantage of overnight accommodations provided by local nonprofit groups and Placer Countyduring last weekend’s subfreezing temperatures.
Most found overnight accommodations through The Gathering Inn, a faith-based organization that operates nomadic shelters at churches throughout the winter in Placer County.
The Gathering Inn added extra capacity last weekend to handle the expected surge in people needing shelter. It has since returned to its normal schedule. On a typical winter night, it houses about 50 people.
The Salvation Army-Roseville turned its facility at 100 Lincoln St.in downtown Rosevilleinto an overnight drop-in center on Thursday, Jan. 11 and has operated the center every night since then. Tonight is scheduled to be the last night that overnight accommodations will be offered.
Placer
County’s Health and Human Services Department and Office of Emergency Services opened overnight warming centers in Rosevilleand Auburnon Thursday, Jan. 11 to make sure there was room to handle anyone who sought overnight shelter as temperatures dipped below freezing. The Gold Country Fairgrounds in Auburnand Placer County Fairgrounds in Rosevilleprovided facilities for the warming centers.
The county closed the Rosevillecenter after one night because The Gathering Inn and Salvation Army had enough capacity to handle everyone needing overnight accommodations in Roseville. The Auburnwarming center in the Clubhouse at the Gold Country Fairgrounds continued to be open overnight through 8 a.m. Tuesday.
“This is a great example of how much can be accomplished when government agencies and nonprofit groups work together during an emergency,” said 3rd District Supervisor Jim Holmes. “We are so fortunate to have nonprofit groups such as The Gathering Inn, Salvation Army and Red Cross that do such outstanding work helping people.”
Over the weekend, the Placer County Sheriff’s Department and other agencies provided outreach to let homeless residents know overnight accommodations were available.
Last Thursday, The Gathering Inn took in 19 people in Auburnand about 50 in Rosevilleand the Salvation Army sheltered 22 at least part of the night.
Six people stayed at the county’s Auburnwarming center over the weekend.