
By Sara Beth Williams–
Beginning Jan. 12, the Citrus Heights Homeless Assistance Resource Team (HART) will host its ninth Winter Sanctuary, a free, temporary nightly program hosted at local churches offering emergency shelter for up to 25 unhoused guests during wet and cold weather.
For 2025, the program runs from Jan. 12 through Feb. 22 and is always seeking more volunteers, according to Citrus Heights HART representatives.
The Winter Sanctuary program operates annually with the help of hundreds of volunteers and area churches that agree to serve as host sites for a week at a time before the lodging rotates to another host site.
In years past, the program ran for longer stretches of time, homeless advocate Alfred Sanchez told The Sentinel last week, adding that the program has been cut to six weeks for 2025. Three years ago, the program ran from Dec. 26, 2021, through Feb. 25, 2022.
“It went from 10 weeks to eight weeks to six weeks,” Sanchez said, asking the question why are host churches dropping out of the program?
Kathilynn Carpenter with Citrus Heights HART said the program could use more volunteers. In January and February 2024, over 750 volunteers helped with welcoming guests, hospitality, sanitizing, and food safety, which represented a slight increase from 2023, according to annual press releases from Citrus Heights HART.
Volunteers from a wide range of organizations and businesses serve each year in a variety of capacities, including those from Dignity Health, Sunrise Christian Food Ministry, Sacramento Regional Transit District, Grace House Ministries, Starbucks, Laundry Love, Citrus Heights Police, homeless navigators, and many others. Volunteers from other churches often contribute to the Winter Sanctuary through offering meals, free services, and time spent with the guests overnight.
The 2024 Winter Sanctuary sheltered 73 guests over eight weeks. There were also two individuals who reunited with family, two who joined Grace House Ministries, an addiction recovery program, and one veteran and another guest who were connected to benefits at River City Recovery, according to Citrus Heights HART.
Guests who want to use the winter shelter can gather at Messiah Lutheran Church at 7801 Rosswood Drive each night, where they register and store their belongings for the night. Those registering must be 18 years or older. No drugs, weapons, alcohol, or pets are allowed. From there, individuals are taken by bus to the host church, where they are provided a hot meal, sleeping arrangements, and a to-go breakfast for the next morning.
Seven host sites are participating in 2025, including locations at Divine Savior Catholic Church, Celtic Cross Presbyterian, Foundation Christian Church, LDS Church Citrus Heights Stake, Holy Family Catholic Church, and Fair Oaks Presbyterian Church.
Those seeking more information can visit Citrus Heights HART’s website here, and volunteers can register at: JustServe.org or HandsOnSacto.org and searching for “Citrus Heights HART Winter Sanctuary” on either site.
The Winter Sanctuary program operates annually with the help of hundreds of volunteers and area churches that agree to serve as host sites for a week at a time before the lodging rotates to another host site...
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