CITRUS HEIGHTS, CA (MPG) - The Citrus Heights Homeless Assistance Resource Team (HART) has been working hard since March to help keep its homeless residents safe and healthy.

Shortly after the close of Winter Sanctuary on February 29, the Coronavirus19 (COVID-19) appeared in the Citrus Heights area providing new challenges to be addressed by HART.

Food continues to be available five-days-a-week at the Sunrise Food Ministry as part of HART’s mission to help provide essential resources to assist the local homeless.

During COVID-19, HART is providing additional services to continue to fulfill this mission when so many on the street are of the demographic most susceptible to contract, spread, and die from the virus. 

At this time, every Friday at Advent Lutheran Church from 1 pm to 3 pm, Citrus Heights HART is subsidizing a different food truck each week to feed our homeless neighbors. The trucks are coordinated by SactoMoFo Corporate Catering.  To date they are feeding nearly 150 people each week. Those needing a meal should arrive and connect with the Citrus Heights Navigator to receive a voucher who will be on sight during those hours. Vouchers can also be picked up at the Sunrise Food Closet located at Advent Lutheran.

In addition, every Tuesday, Friday, and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Antelope Road Christian Fellowship is providing free showers for the homeless. Along with a shower, The Way Ministry is providing box dinners on those days at 4 p.m.

HART wishes to thank all who donated during their Shelter-in-Place fundraiser; funds are being put to use immediately, supporting the showers and box dinners at Antelope Christian and going to The Way Ministries for the meals. Antelope Christian received $2,000 to help offset their costs.  

A new sanitization and handwashing station was constructed and installed at Celtic Cross Presbyterian Church by HART board member Katherine McBride. It will also be maintained by The Way Ministry volunteers. To help clients maintain their health during this time HART is distributing 40 hygiene and sanitation kits per week as well as COVID-19 prevention information sheets. 

Finally, to help provide a modicum of shelter for as many as possible, Sacramento Self-Help Housing Outreach Navigator, Toni Morgan, is providing tents to people unable to get into a motel or hotel so people can practice some type of quarantine.  

Thanks to the City of Citrus Heights and its many partners, the homeless continue to be provided access to food, and ways to stay clean, healthy and safe during these uncertain times.