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February Newsletter Highlights:
See highlights from the 2026 Point-in-Time Count, join your homelessness response system at free events (including a new movie screening), understand the impact made by the Coordinated Access System, read the latest provider spotlight, and much more!
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Last week, Sacramento completed the 2026 Point-in-Time (PIT) Count, a countywide effort to better understand homelessness and inform how our community responds. Over two nights, volunteers formed teams to cover all 200 tracts and engage with people experiencing homelessness across Sacramento County.
Using designated census tracts, teams were deployed in a coordinated and consistent manner across urban, suburban, and rural areas. This structured approach minimized duplication and strengthened the accuracy of the data, ensuring it reflects real conditions across the region. Within each tract, when teams encountered individuals experiencing homelessness, volunteers conducted observations and engaged in respectful conversations to better understand the needs present throughout Sacramento.
Coordinating an effort of this scale required months of planning and close collaboration among outreach teams, service providers, public agencies, and community partners. Training, deployment logistics, safety planning, and data quality protocols were all essential to ensuring the Count was conducted respectfully and accurately.
We want to extend a thank you to everyone who made this effort possible: Our partners at the City of Sacramento and Sacramento County, the hundreds of volunteers who showed up prepared and engaged, the providers and outreach teams who have shown such incredible commitment to helping our neighbors, and local officials and media who helped to elevate the importance of the count. A special shoutout to:
- Community HealthWorks
- City of Sacramento Department of Community Response
- First Step Communities
- The Sacramento LGBT Community Center
- City Net
- Step Up Sacramento
- Jake’s Journey Home
Each tract covered and each interaction recorded contributes to a more complete picture of homelessness in Sacramento.
Now that field work is complete, PIT Count data is undergoing review, validation, and analysis. This work ensures accuracy, consistency, and de-duplication before results are finalized. A full summary of findings will be shared with the community and be available on our website by late spring or early summer.
Local, state, and federal partners will use this data to assess progress, identify gaps, and plan next steps, helping guide how needs are prioritized and resources are allocated.
However, this report is more than just informative; it’s federally required.
Many of Sacramento’s shelter beds, housing programs, and supportive services are funded by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). To continue accessing these funds, HUD requires our community to conduct the PIT Count a minimum of every other year during the last 10 days of January.
Starting this year, the Point-in-Time Count will now take place every year in Sacramento.
Moving to an annual Count will allow our community to track changes even more closely, respond more quickly to emerging needs, and make more informed decisions about funding and system improvements.
We look forward to continuing this work together and invite you to join us in January 2027 for the next Point-in-Time Count.
Sincerely,
The Sacramento Steps Forward Team
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Continuum of Care Meetings
Upcoming CoC Meetings
Become involved in and learn more about our local Continuum of Care (CoC), which leads our regional planning, coordination, and funding to resolve homelessness:
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CoC Board: In-person on Wednesday, February 11 at 8:00 a.m.
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HMIS and Data Committee: Thursday, February 12 at 10:00 a.m.
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Community Accountability Committee: Wednesday, February 18 at 9:00 a.m.
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PIT Count Committee: Thursday, February 19 at 9:00 a.m.
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Case Conferencing: Working Together to Move Client Cases Forward
If you are working with clients facing complex housing barriers and need a space to problem-solve with peers, we invite you to join Case Conferencing hosted by Sacramento Steps Forward. We convene weekly, with 90-minute meetings in 10-week cycles where providers coordinate care, share real-time updates, and connect directly to housing, income, and healthcare resources. Join the current January 19–March 27, 2026 cycle and work alongside providers across the system to help clients move forward faster.
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Free Screening of Beyond the Bridge: A Solution to Homelessness
You’re invited to attend a film screening and discussion of Beyond the Bridge: A Solution to Homelessness on February 18, 2026, from 5:00–8:00 p.m. at the California Museum. The documentary looks at how communities across the country are approaching solutions to homelessness and is part of a national screening tour. Hosted by A Bigger Vision Films, the California Budget & Policy Center, CSH, and the Steinberg Institute, the evening will include a screening followed by a moderated discussion with the filmmakers and local and state leaders. Attendance is free, and registration is available through the event organizers.
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Provider Training Updates & Opportunities
Our two-day, in-person Housing Problem Solving (HPS) trainings for February and April are officially full, with waitlists already in place. These sessions equip frontline staff with practical tools and shared approaches to help people quickly identify options, overcome barriers, and move toward stable housing. Thank you to everyone who registered. If you would like to be added to the waitlist, please contact trainings@sacstepsforward.org
CAS Assessor training materials are available for newly onboarded Sacramento Coordinated Access System (CAS) service providers. Congratulations to the many hundreds of CAS Assessors who are now part of this work! Your assessments play a critical role in helping people access the right housing and services. Please note that the CAS User Agreement and CAS Assessor Certification Quiz are currently being updated and will be unavailable until mid-February.
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USAging: Solutions for Older Adults' Homelessness Virtual Summit
This virtual summit on Friday, February 20 at 10:30 a.m., hosted by USAging, will focus on the growing number of older adults experiencing homelessness and how communities are responding. The session will bring together speakers from aging and homelessness services to share what they are seeing on the ground and approaches that may be useful for providers and community members supporting older adults.
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Provider Spotlight: AcademySTAY
When Deja arrived at AcademySTAY, she was facing the housing cliff that many foster youth encounter when they age out of care. This month, she graduated from Sacramento State with a degree in Psychology. Deja is one of 35 young adults supported by AcademySTAY, which provides stable housing and individualized support for transitional-aged foster youth ages 18–24 in North Sacramento. With a safe place to live, Deja was able to focus on her education and complete her degree. Click below to learn how AcademySTAY is helping young adults stay connected to education and work, and how the community can get involved.
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The Coordinated Access System: December Experiences and Data
Sacramento's Coordinated Access System (CAS) is our community's door to homelessness and housing services. In December, it connected 5,098 people to support. The CAS helped prevent homelessness for 7 people, supported 224 to become housed, and enrolled 87 in shelter. The following is just one of these many stories:
"On December 11, 2025, the client expressed that she was flexible and open to any available shelter option, but at that time all shelters were full and referrals could not be submitted. Her immediate need was to secure safe shelter as soon as a bed became available. I continued outreach efforts, and on December 15 I attempted to submit a referral to Meadowview, though referrals were paused due to maintenance. On December 17, I located a bottom bunk at the North A shelter and coordinated her intake, including arranging Lyft transportation. Because the client appeared disoriented, I sent reminders about the intake and followed up to ensure she made it to her pickup, including a final check-in shortly before the adjusted pickup time. As a result, the client successfully completed intake and is now sheltered at North A. Reflecting on this experience, consistent follow-up and clear communication were key in helping the client navigate barriers and secure shelter."
To access the CAS, call 2-1-1 and press 8.
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February Wellness Tip for Service Providers
The ongoing pivots and changes that continue to occur have many of us on uneven ground, so to speak. Wellness practices as part of our workday are needed so we can show up as our best selves for clients. "Grounding" is a practice that is simple and attainable in your workday. Translated to plain speak it means, get out of your head and into your body.
Between clients–when you can–step outside or open a door and take in 3 deep breathes with a focus on a longer exhale. Look towards the sun, observe the color of foliage, the shape of clouds or tune in to the sound of birds. The sensory check-in and your slow exhales will bring a grounded awareness back to your mind and body in under 3 minutes.
Do you have wellness tips you use to help yourself survive and thrive in this work? Let us know so we can share them with fellow providers!
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Submit Proposals to Present at the 2026 National Conference on Ending Homelessness
The National Alliance to End Homelessness is accepting proposals to present at the 2026 National Conference on Ending Homelessness, taking place from July 8 – July 10, 2026 in Washington, D.C.
They are seeking session proposals that provide valuable insights, reflect diverse experiences, and demonstrate innovative approaches to ending homelessness.
Proposals are due by 11:59 P.M. PT on Tuesday, March 17, 2026. Late submissions or submissions sent via email will not be accepted.
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From the Terner Center: 2026 Federal Housing Policy Preview
The Terner Center for Housing Innovation at UC Berkeley has shared a new overview, 2026 Federal Housing Policy Preview, that walks through the federal housing and homelessness issues likely to shape the year ahead. The commentary breaks down what’s moving in Congress, what funding levels may look like for key housing and homelessness programs, and how executive actions could affect housing supply and affordability. It’s a helpful, plain-language resource for providers and partners who want to understand how federal policy decisions may impact local homelessness response efforts in 2026.
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Share Your Work: Be Featured as a Provider
Help us highlight the great work happening across Sacramento! We’re inviting providers to share their progress, challenges, and opportunities for collaboration to be featured in our upcoming newsletters and other communications. This is a chance to showcase your impact, inspire new partnerships, and help shape the conversation around homelessness response. Fill out the form below to share your story and connect with the broader community.
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