Rotating winter shelter for Citrus Heights homeless to begin Jan. 1

By Mike Hazlip—
An eight-week winter shelter for people experiencing homelessness in Citrus Heights is set to begin on Sunday, Jan. 1, organizers say.

The shelter is coordinated through the Citrus Heights Homeless Assistance Resource Team (HART) and involves several area churches and volunteers who provide a warm meal and a place to sleep each winter.

The program is set to kick off this year with Fair Oaks Presbyterian Church hosting guests each night from Jan. 1-7, according to a schedule by the organization. The shelter will then rotate to other locations, with participating churches including Celtic Cross Presbyterian, Divine Savior Catholic Church, Advent Lutheran, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints Citrus Heights Stake, and Foundation Christian Church.

Guests will gather at an intake center at Messiah Lutheran Church at 7801 Rosswood Drive, between 4:30-6 p.m. each night, before being bused to the host church. The program is slated to conclude Feb. 25, 2023.

A statement emailed to The Sentinel by HART President Irene Hronicek shows the program hosted 19 women and 58 men last year, during the nine weeks between Dec. 26 and Feb. 25. More than 800 volunteers served over 1,000 hot meals and 972 to-go lunches.

“Thank you for helping as we offer a hand up, not just a hand out,” the statement said.

Citrus Height HART is asking anyone looking to volunteer with the overnight program to contact the organization at www.citrusheightshart.org. Individuals can also help by purchasing supplies and equipment for the organization through an Amazon wish list, with items including socks, hand warmers, beanies, toiletries, and other items.