By Sara Beth Williams–
Beginning Jan. 4, 2026, the Citrus Heights Homeless Assistance Resource Team (HART) will host its 10th Winter Sanctuary, a free, temporary nightly program hosted at local churches offering emergency shelter for unhoused guests during wet and cold weather. For 2026, the program is slated to run from Jan. 4 through Feb. 21.
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. Citrus Heights HART representatives say the program needs more volunteers who are available to work late into the night or overnight.
This year, the program will run a week longer than last year.
In an annual update for 2025, the nonprofit reported that this year’s rotating winter shelter served a total of 62 unhoused individuals, providing them with a variety of basic needs. Over 600 volunteers from various organizations throughout the city and beyond helped make running the shelter possible.
Volunteers from other churches often contribute to the Winter Sanctuary through offering meals, free services, and time spent with the guests overnight.
Guests who want to use the winter shelter need to gather at Messiah Lutheran Church at 7801 Rosswood Drive each evening, to register and store 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.
This year, six churches are participating for a total of seven weeks, including Holy Family Catholic Church, Divine Savior Catholic Church, LDS Church Citrus Heights Stake, Celtic Presbyterian, Foundation Christian Church, and Fair Oaks Presbyterian Church. Some churches are scheduled to host guests for two, one-week-long sessions.
Those seeking more information can visit Citrus Heights HART’s website here, and volunteers can register at JustServe.org or HandsOnSacto.org and search for “Citrus Heights HART Winter Sanctuary” on either site.
