SACRAMENTO, CA (MPG) - Carol Roberts, CEO of LSS of Northern California is pleased to announce an Art Show and Celebration on Big Day of Giving.

Featuring the artwork of persons who have recently exited from homelessness, the event will be held at the new LSS of Northern California Sacramento office and parking lot, 2450 Alhambra Blvd, Sacramento, on Thursday, May 4, 2023, from 12:00-6:00pm.

The event features the artistic talent of formerly homeless persons who under LSS programming have the opportunity to express themselves, and their experiences, hopes and dreams through artistic mediums. The exhibit includes oil paintings, watercolors, sculptures, mixed media, photography and more. All art is for sale. This Big Day of Giving celebration will also feature Sacramento comedians and spoken word performers.

“The art show and celebration are part of our Big Day of Giving activities,” explains Roberts. “We wanted to provide the community with something fun and interesting during the all-day Sacramento event, as well as an opportunity for our neighbors to see first-hand what their commitment to the community can do.

“It’s also a thank you to the community for partnering with us to serve the most vulnerable in our community,” she adds.

“Big Day of Giving is critical in our ability to provide the individualized and compassionate services to the most vulnerable in our community,” adds Kate Hutchinson, LSS Deputy Director of Programs. “The funds we raise that day are used to provide our participants with such things as a bus ticket to attend a family member’s funeral, essential items for a new baby, emergency utility payments, groceries, or medicine. Urgent things that they need and cannot afford.”

There will be raffle drawings throughout the day.

“The event is free, and we invite anyone and everyone to stop by for refreshments and incredible art!” concludes Roberts.

Event Summary: Big Day of Giving Art Show and Celebration, May 4, 2023, 12:00-6:00pm, 2450 Alhambra Blvd (at Broadway) Event is Free. Contact: Jerry Metzker, jmetzker@lssnorcal.org

 

SACRAMENTO COUNTY, CA (MPG) - Twenty-two years ago, Scott Joseph Lee was murdered as he arrived home to his apartment in Orangevale. On March 26, 2001, at approximately 11 pm, Sacramento County Sheriff’s Deputies responded to an apartment complex at 8721 Greenback Lane regarding possible carjacking and shooting.

At approximately 10:45 pm, 23-year-old Scott Joseph Lee was driving to his apartment. During the drive, Scott was speaking with his sister. During the phone conversation, Scott’s sister heard an unknown male voice demanding the victim give him something and glass breaking. She also heard the victim tell the suspect to “just take it.”

The victim’s family went to the apartment complex and eventually located Scott on the ground next to one of the apartment buildings. The victim had been shot several times and was not conscious. Fire personnel arrived and declared him deceased at the scene.  To date, Investigators have not been able to identify the suspect(s) in this case.

Tips leading to an arrest are eligible for a CASH reward of up to $1000, and tipsters remain anonymous. Tips are paid in cash, and you are never asked for identification. Contact Sacramento Valley Crime Stoppers at (916) 443-HELP (4357), 1(800) AA-CRIME, or TIPS. Use the “P3 TIPS” app or online at www.sacvalleycrimestoppers.com

Recently, the family of Scott Lee has established a $10,000 reward for information that results in the arrest and conviction of the person(s) responsible for Scott’s murder. Please call the Sheriff’s Homicide Bureau at 916-874-8476 if you are willing to speak with investigators regarding this case.

CARMICHAEL, CA (MPG) - Showcasing the ongoing revitalization and its effect on local businesses within the area, the Carmichael Improvement District (CID) board of directors invites you to our ‘State of the PBID-2023,’ dinner & special presentations on April 27, 2023, at the Carmichael Elks Lodge, 5631 Cypress, in Carmichael.

“How does our PBID increase property values? Fundamentally, the answer lies in our success in maintenance and security, economic development and special events.” says Executive Director, of the CID, Rebekah Evans, ‘The CID uses multiple tools, and we are excited to share this information with our Carmichael business community, at the State of the PBID dinner with special guest speakers.’

Networking ‘cocktail hour,’ is set for 5:30 pm, with the event starting at 6:15 pm. Presentations from speakers, such as ‘Tracey Flaningam, with Community Strong Strategies,’ a Sacramento County leading expert in economic development, for business attraction and retention efforts. Speakers include Senator Roger Niello, representing District 6, Sacramento County Sheriff UnderSheriff Mike Ziegler, and Tracey Flaningam, Partner with Community Strong Strategies.

“This beautiful sit-down dinner has ‘Table Sponsorships’ available for your company, with individual reservations at a discounted investment of only $45 through March 31,” Chair of the event, Rosie Buck explains, “we encourage your reservation soon, as it’s a limited selection!” Reservations are available on Eventbrite. We will also be celebrating our ‘BRIGHT STAR AWARD WINNER’ for 2023!’

The Carmichael Improvement District is a Property Business Improvement District (PBID) formed in 2016 through a collective effort among property owners in the area, consisting of commercial properties along the greater Fair Oaks Boulevard corridor and more. The organization seeks to lead the transformation of Carmichael to a prosperous, engaged, and desirable community. They work every day to keep the community safe and clean in order to attract businesses and customers to the area.

“Table Sponsorships are available for your company, with individual reservations at a discounted investment of only $55 through April 17, 2023,” Evans explains, “we encourage your reservation soon, as it’s a limited selection of seats. Go to www.discovercarmichael.com for more details.

SACRAMENTO COUNTY, CA (MPG) - The Sacramento County Board of Supervisors approved at its March 28, 2023 meeting $1,000,000 in General Fund dollars to preserve housing supports for individuals currently sheltered in the County's Scattered-Site Shelter Program. The Board also approved a redirect up to an additional $700,000 to preserve housing for households currently housed in the County's Flexible Housing Pool (FHP) program, for a total of $1,700,000.

These two programs have been funded by the County, but operated by Sacramento Self-Help Housing (SSHH). SSHH is a local, community-based nonprofit that serves people experiencing homelessness through outreach services, shelter, supportive services, and permanent housing. As one of their main services, SSHH leases or facilitates direct leases with landlords of properties on the open market to provide 'scattered site' housing and sheltering for people experiencing homelessness.

The Problem
County staff were made aware of significant financial issues at SSHH that led to landlords not being paid in full for rent, in both the housing and sheltering programs, which puts program participants at risk of losing their housing or shelter. County staff have been working in coordination with SSHH staff to improve their processes, invoicing, landlord relations and audited their financial practices. In spite of this work, rents went unpaid and SSHH invoiced the County for funds they have not paid landlords and for costs they have yet to incur. 

The County’s number one priority is keeping folks housed or sheltered, despite the significant issues the unpaid rents caused with the landlords. 

Flexible Housing Pool Program
SSHH was a provider of Property Related Tenant Services (PRTS) as part of the Flexible Housing Pool (FHP) program.

In the spring of 2022, SSHH reported funding shortfalls in their PRTS contracts under the FHP program to County staff, which was scheduled to end June 30, 2022. County staff worked with SSHH to improve their invoicing processes such that rental payments to landlords would not be delayed. However, SSHH continued to fall behind in payments to landlords, and in August of 2022, the Department of Human Assistance (DHA) augmented SSHH's budget by $370,000 and extended their contract through the end of 2022 to stabilize the clients in rental units.

However, the back rent owed and damage assessments required up to an additional $700,000 to cover, which was approved by the Board on Tuesday, March 28.

The extended contract for PRTS with SSHH expired on December 31, 2022 and the County hired a new provider, through the competitive bid process, for both PRTS and the Intensive Case Management Services. Consumer Self-Help Center (CSHC) took over the 38 clients and units in the PRTS program and has been working with both tenants and landlords for nearly three months.

Scattered Site Shelter Program
Sacramento Self-Help Housing has also been experiencing financial issues with its County-funded scattered-site shelter program. This shelter model, which master-leases single-family homes, provides a 24/7 on-site house monitor and can shelter up to five unhoused individuals at one time, has historically been successful in transitioning people off the streets and into more stable housing situations. The intent of this model is a short stay in the shelter home and a more seamless move into traditional or supportive housing.

This program has been funded for a capacity up to 160 beds at any given time, but County staff learned that there were unpaid rental balances to landlords and that the program had not been working at capacity for some time. There are currently 80-90 clients in this shelter program.

The Solution/Next Steps
In addition to the Board’s action to preserve housing, the County has conducted a thorough audit of SSHH’s financial management and cash flow issues and the results of that audit will be made public in the coming weeks. The County is also aware that SSHH holds contracts for similar services with other jurisdictions and organizations that are experiencing similar issues with SSHH and are also dealing with funding shortfalls. The County is working in partnership with those jurisdictions and organizations to help find a resolution that will protect their clients and units.

Due to the overwhelming and ongoing issues with SSHH’s management of both these programs, the County has opted to let their contracts expire and move forward with alternative providers. CSHC has already begun its work and the County is in final talks with another provider that will take over the scattered-site sheltering program. Once that provider is under contract, the County will release more information and work directly with both the new provider and SSHH to transition all units and clients over.

For more information about what the County is doing to address homelessness, visit our website.