SACRAMENTO – To California Executive Order of Governor Gavin Newsom begin clearing the homeless camps in California, the big question now is: Where will they all go?
When the camps are dismantled, thousands of people will need a place to go.
“Yes, I think everyone is bracing themselves for their own unique situation and thinking about who they can serve and how they can best serve them,” Rio Ray said.
Major Rio Ray is with the Salvation Army in Sacramento.
“I don’t think any of us want to see homeless people living on the streets,” Ray said.
The Salvation Army has several emergency shelters and wants to use the provision of accommodation as an opportunity for a fresh start.
“The hope is to not only provide shelter and meals, but to provide a way out and get people the help they need so they are no longer part of this program and this vicious cycle,” Ray said.
And he hopes for people’s help, because solving this problem requires a lot of time, money and compassion.
“If you don’t have anything to give, I always encourage people to say a prayer, donate their time and make a commitment to help people in that way,” Ray said.
While Newsom cannot order local authorities to take action, his administration can exert pressure by withholding funds from counties and cities.
