Non-Profit Collaborative Serving the Unhoused in Sacramento

"Every human being has the right to live with dignity and to develop integrally; this fundamental right cannot be denied by any country.  People have this right even if they are unproductive or were born with or developed limitations.  This does not detract from their great dignity as human persons, a dignity based not on circumstances but on the intrinsic worth of their being. Unless this basic principle is upheld, there will be no future either for fraternity or for the survival of humanity"

-Pope Francis, Fratelli Tutti, no. 107

In early 2025, the California Catholic Conference, the Society of St. Vincent de Paul and the Catholic Charities of Sacramento/Diocese of Sacramento raised awareness of our brothers and sisters suffering in the experience of being unhoused through several events and creating the Non-Profit Collaborating Serving the Unhoused in Sacramento.   On February 10, 2025, a screening and panel discussion was held at Sacred Heart Parish in Sacramento, in which we showed the documentary "Americans with No Address".  This event highlighted the opportunity to gather non-profit organizations and faith-based ministries to foster collaboration to better serve the unhoused community. On February 27, 2025, a film screening of the film "No Address" was held at the Tower Theater. Over 200 attended the film screening and reaffirmed the need for an opportunity for a dialogue, to get to know each other and how we can best serve our unhoused brothers and sisters. 

Since May 2025, over 20 non-profit organizations and faith-based ministries have met regularly to get to know each other, learning of the services each organization provides, sharing opportunities and challenges and how else we can advocate for more compassionate and dignified response to the unhoused crisis.  Representatives from the City of Sacramento, Sacramento County and healthcare partners were invited to provide updates and share their resources which expanded our ability to connect to much needed services on behalf of our unhoused clients. 

July 2026: A Month of Action

During the month of July 2026, the Non-Profit Collaborative Serving the Unhoused in Sacramento is hosting a Month of Action: Responding to the Cry of the Poor in response to the extreme heat conditions affecting unhoused brothers and sisters in Sacramento.  Our goal is to provide life-saving resources and support to the most vulnerable to extreme heat through volunteering & donations, raising awareness & staying informed, praying for those suffering in homelessness and praying for God's grace to help us build a civilization of love where no one is excluded from or denied a dignified life. 

Volunteer & Donations

Volunteer: You can volunteer with several organizations whose mission is to serve and support individuals and families experiencing homelessness in your community.  To learn more, check out our list of participating organizations:

         Online Document: Volunteer Opportunities for July 2026, Month of Action

Donations: Extreme heat conditions can lead to dehydration, heat related illness, sunburn, exacerbate chronic conditions and can also lead to death.  You can help save lives and prevent heat related illnesses by donating financially or donating resources such as bottled water, electrolyte drinks, sunscreen, hats, etc. To learn more about donating, please visit: Donation Opportunities_July 2026

Raise Awareness & Stay Informed

The baptized, anointed by the Holy Spirit, are incorporated into Christ, who is priest, prophet and king, and we are called to share in is mission (Catechism of the Catholic Church, no. 1241).  As prophets, we announce the Kingdom of God in both word and deed and we witness to the Gospel in family, social life, and community, and in our commitment to human life and dignity.   The Holy Spirit calls us to "bear witness to Christ by taking courageous and prophetic stands in the face of the corruption of political or economic power.  The Spirit also "overcomes barriers and divisions of race, caste, or ideology" and makes the Christian-on-mission "a sign of God's love in the world - a love without exclusion or partiality" (Redemptoris Missio, nos. 43,49).  

Raising awareness: 

  • Learn about the reality and experience of our unhoused brothers and sisters through encountering them, listening with compassion to their stories and hopes, supporting those who serve the unhoused and continue to understand the many challenges in accessing services and housing.  
  • Participate in community conversations focused on housing, food, physical and mental health care, safety net programs and advocate for compassionate, respectful and dignified approaches to supporting those who are experiencing homelessness.  
  • Share and invite others to participate in opportunities to volunteer, dialogue, learn more about the challenges and opportunities to ensure that people experiencing homelessness do not feel alone, find the support they need, and that we do not become indifferent to their suffering. 

Stay Informed:

  • Know about your local Cooling Centers.  Cooling or respite center provide much needed relief from extreme heat.  Get to know when the cooling or respite centers are available, their hours and locations, and how you can help ensure that cooling and respite centers remain available.
  • Learn the signs of heat-related illness. During extreme heat events, people without access to cooler temperatures can suffer symptoms of heat illness and some chronic health conditions may worsen.  
  • Make a Plan: As with earthquakes, floods, or other serious natural weather events, planning can help protect yourself and vulnerable family members.  It's important to create a plan in case of weather emergencies to ensure you are prepared to respond depending on the needs of your family, household and neighbors.
  • Sign Up to Receive Emergency Alerts from the California Office of Emergency Services. Cal OES manages Wirless Amergency Alerts which are used to send concise, text-like messages to capable mobile devices during emergency situations.  These alerts are sent by state and local public health officials, the National Weather Service, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, and the President of the United States.

Prayer

Solidarity is one of the four main principles of the Social Doctrine of the Church.  Solidarity is a "firm and persevering determination to commit oneself to . . . the good of all and of each individual, because we are all really responsible for all" (Compendium of the Social Doctrine of the Church, no. 193). In Fratelli Tutti, Pope Francis placed solidarity at the center of what it means to cultivate social friendship as one family and reminded us that solidarity affects not only the goals we pursue in public life, but also the way we pursue them - ever mindful that we are all brothers and sisters, all children of God. 

When we pray, we experience God and we remember that he is in us and in all people, who are created in his image and have inherent and infinite dignity.  We must know how to come to God in prayer, experience God in ourselves and others, and listen to the ways God is calling us to respond.  We invite you to pray so that we are moved to "create healthier societies and a more dignified world, a world without hunger, poverty, violence, and war" with special care to our unhoused brothers and sisters. 

Praying for those suffering in homelessness and to build a civilization of love: