By Mike Hazlip—
Citing a decline in volunteers amid the coronavirus pandemic, organizers of a rotating winter homeless shelter in Citrus Heights are seeking to enlist more help in preparation for the shelter opening later this month.
The “winter sanctuary” program is put on by the Citrus Heights Homeless Assistance Resource Team (HART) and is slated to begin Sunday, Dec. 26 and rotate between various churches, as in prior years.
The intake site will again be at Messiah Lutheran Church, at 7801 Rosswood Drive, according to a news release sent out by HART this week. The site will open its doors at 5 p.m., and guests will be registered and provided with behavior guidelines upon arrival.
Room for up to 25 guests will be available, and those showing up for overnight accommodations will be able to secure small items and bicycles overnight, the news release said.
The winter sanctuary relies on volunteers and host churches throughout the city. The program is scheduled to run through Feb. 26, 2022. The program is chaired by Irene Hronicek, and is one of several HART groups through Sacramento County.
“We begin winter sanctuary right after Christmas, because it’s our coldest, rainiest months, in January and February,” Hronicek said in Tuesday’s press release, adding that the homeless men and women who come “are welcomed by smiling faces. They are included in prayer and companionship throughout the evening.”
Resources are also provided at the winter sanctuary sites, with personnel on hand to assist with housing, work programs, and addiction recovery programs, the release said.
Those seeking more information can visit citrusheightshart.org/programs/winter-sanctuary, and volunteers can register at: JustServe.org or HandsOnSacto.org and searching for “Citrus Heights HART 2022 Winter Sanctuary” on the sites.
