"It’s just troubling to imagine that good, decent human beings have to live in less than ideal conditions,” explains Kevin Johnson, Mayor of Sacramento in an interview with the HRC. Mayor Johnson shares his concern for the people of Sacramento who have been living in tent cities and his plans for ending homelessness in Sacramento.

The city of Sacramento, California has one of the strictest anti-camping ordinances in the nation. To learn more about the situation in Sacramento, read the HRC article “Finding Safe Ground."

Q: I read that you spent a night with the tent city community in Sacramento. Why did you do this?

In the city of Sacramento, I felt like we were sweeping the issue of homelessness under the rug. It was kind of like a dirty little secret that no one wanted to talk about. I said, “That's no way to run a government.”

It's troubling to imagine that good, decent human beings have to live in less than ideal conditions. When you think about it, there are a lot of us who don't want to face the reality that not everyone in Sacramento has a place to lay his head, either in a shelter or permanent housing. As a mayor, I think this is a fight worth having.

Q: What did you learn from the tent city community?

In many ways, the people in this tent city have a sense of community that many of us are looking for. They look out for one another. They tend to each other's needs and keep each other safe.

Q: How have you supported the efforts of Safe Ground Sacramento to place a moratorium on the anti-camping law?

I support the concept of Safe Ground as one thread in our long-term comprehensive plan to end homelessness.

When faced with the challenge of a tent city in Sacramento, I immediately began to bring together stakeholders and build coalitions that were focused on results. Through city and county partnerships and the work of the homeless community, we were able to ensure that all residents relocated to shelters from the original tent city. As Sacramento continues its work to develop sustainable solutions that empower people who are homeless, I have continued to invest a significant amount of time and energy to find new solutions to this complex problem.

Q: What is Sacramento's long-term plan for ending homelessness?

As chair of the policy board to end homelessness, I have stated clearly that the long-term plan to end homelessness is to provide permanent housing options for all.  The comprehensive plan includes a safety net of prevention and emergency shelter. This is coupled with pathways to permanent housing that include case management, job training, and transitional shelter. I have also formed an ad hoc committee to bring Safe Ground proposals forward.

In order for the long-term plan to be successful, Sacramento must develop the community and political will to support these services. Finally, the foundation of the long-term plan to end homelessness is accountability and a commitment to decision-making that is driven by data.