The services that we are hoping to partner with community-based organizations around are:

• Cooling and Warming Centers & Spaces
• Weather Respite Centers
• Supply Partner
• Additional shelter bed capacity

More information around each of these services can be found in the project details section. 

The Sacramento County of Department of Homeless Services and Housing (DHSH) is releasing this Request for Qualifications (RFQ) seeking applications from qualified organizations interested in operating and/or providing services during inclement weather in Sacramento County.

Statement of Need

According to the Homeless Point in Time (PIT) Count of 2022, more than 9,200 individuals are experiencing homelessness in Sacramento County, 72% percent of whom are unsheltered.

The impacts of climate change are felt most acutely by those community members most regularly exposed to the elements.  Persons experiencing homelessness, particularly those living unsheltered, experience disproportionate health and safety impacts from Sacramento County's rain, cold, wind, heat and air quality. In addition, we understand warming and cooling centers specifically will be utilized by a diversity of community members (housed and unhoused) impacted by the inclement weather.

As a result, Sacramento County's Department of Homeless Services & Housing is exploring partnerships with community-based organizations to support the health and safety of persons experiencing homelessness during weather events. 

The programs and services must be of primary benefit to persons experiencing unsheltered homelessness.

In addition, we are looking to prioritize partners working in locations that are most geographically accessible to persons experiencing unsheltered homelessness.  

As noted above, we understand there are a number of weather related events that produce disproportionate health and safety impacts to persons experiencing unsheltered homelessness: rain, cold, wind, heat and air quality.  Historically, Sacramento County has mobilized its resources around response to the cold and the heat.  We are exploring opportunities to expand our programs to support broader activation such as air quality, flooding and other environmental disasters.