Compiled by John McCormack

DISCLAIMER – The following information was compiled from internet sites listed below and my attendance as an Arden Arcade HART volunteer at planning meetings. All of the information herein may not be accurate so please provide feedback and corrections. I am not speaking for any of these programs but only for myself, with an interest in expanding and supporting these programs. Please share with others who may be interested in supporting these vital ministries. 

HART OF FOLSOM – https://hartoffolsom.org/ Overnight shelter from 1/3-3/27/2021  following Covid-19 protocols. Only HART to do overnight shelter during pandemic. Street ministry and some transitional housing. 

CARMICHAEL HART https://carmichaelhart.org/ – Stopped overnight shelter in 2020. Charlotte House (transitional housing) was successful. Carmichael Presbyterian donated an additional house that needs re-modeling. Will used SSHH for case management, with Carmichael navigator. Announced opening of second transitional house for men. Backpack donations for students. Saturday shower program at Carmichael Presbyterian. 

MIDTOWN HART https://www.hartstogether.org/midtown-hart-respite-center  – Begun 2019. Donations of bicycles by two benefactors and bike locks by Sacramento Bike Kitchen <sacbikekitchen.org>. Continued day hosting at Midtown Respite Center – Tuesdays at St. John’s Lutheran, 1701 L Street and Fridays at Trinity Episcopal Cathedral, 2620 Capital Avenue), with navigator support. 

CITRUS HEIGHTS HART https://citrusheightshart.org/ –  Stopped overnight shelter in 2020. Runs clothing store (“Underground Clothing Collection”) and Student Connection Fair for SJUSD students. New president is Irene Hronicek. 

ELK GROVE HART http://www.elkgrovehart.org/  – Stopped overnight shelter in 2020. Ran WINSIP (Winter Shelter in Place) during pandemic (10/5/2020 – March 2021) with 65 guests served. Navigators do wellness checks. Distributes meals and supplies with Elk Grove Presbyterian assembling meals. Elk Grove United Methodist provides meals on Tues. and Thurs. Received CARES Act funding. Partners with Elk Grove PD for trash pickup program with guests participating receiving $20 retail gift cards. Partners with Elk Grove Food Bank. Provides some supportive housing. 

RANCHO CORDOVA HART https://www.ranchocordovahart.org/ – Stopped overnight shelter in 2020. Will do transitional housing in future. Donates sleeping bags and cots. Transportation during shelter season. Mentor program. Food and clothing vouchers and bus passes provided. 

NORTH SACRAMENTO HART https://www.hartstogether.org/north-sacramento – Incorporated 2019. Runs Parking Lot Shelter (PLS) program, modeled on Oakland and LA, with breakfast and dinner. Provides gas and grocery cards, toiletries, hygiene supplies, undergarments and PPE for students in Robla School District. Also, developing plans for a respite center. Not affiliated with City of Sacramento Parking Lot Shelter. 

SOUTH SACRAMENTO HART https://southsachart.org/  – Incorporated 2019. President – Fatema Martinez who is also a new member of the Sacramento Continuum of Care (CoC) and a board member of Sacramento Self Help Housing . They do street donations and are organizing to do youth work, outreach, fundraising, housing support and community education. Also offering a respite center on Saturday mornings at Florin United Methodist Church. 

ARDEN ARCADE HART https://www.hartstogether.org/arden-arcade – Incorporated 2019. Partnered with Carmichael HART in winter 2019/2020 on rotating winter shelter. Program with 300 + homeless Encina HS students. Works with SSHH and Sacramento County navigators and with street nurses. Coordinates with Mercy Pedalers teams in Arden Arcade. Collects and stores supplies for homeless persons on Monday mornings to be distributed by navigators and Mercy Pedalers. Began providing bagged meals seven days a week  with 7 faith-based organizations, to continue indefinitely. 

FAIR OAKS – ORANGEVALE HART https://www.facebook.com/HART.OVFO/ – Organizing into a 501©3 in Spring 2021. 50 interested volunteers attended first meeting. Shoe, backpack giveaway. 

WEST SACRAMENTO HART – Organizing 2021. 

HART WEBSITE: https://www.hartstogether.org/  (includes monthly HARTs Together Newsletter) 

SACRAMENTO SELF HELP HOUSING – https://www.sacselfhelp.org/ Assists persons who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless to find and retain stable and affordable housing. Coordinates and consults with all local HART programs. 

MERCY PEDALERS – Founded by Sister Libby Fernandez on her retirement from Loaves and Fishes in 2017, this street ministry offers water, food, coffee, compassion and resource referrals to homeless individuals.  It has now expanded to other parts of the metro area, including Arden Arcade, where Mercy Pedaler volunteers partner with Arden Arcade HART to offer homeless support, including daily meal and water distribution via automobile. 

Please join us as we start the Visioning Process for a Winter Shelter for our unsheltered neighbors living in Arden Arcade. Bring your enthusiasm, ideas and compassion.  This is an open invitation to individuals, clubs, organizations, and faith communities.  Spread the word and invite your friends.

If you would like to be a part of the solution, but can not make this meeting, Please reply and we will keep you in the loop.  If you would like a Arden Arcade HART representative to come speak with you, we would be glad to come.

See you soon,
CeeCee Coleman
President Arden Arcade HART (Homeless Assistance Resource Team)

Arden Arcade HART is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.

AA HART Winter Shelter Meeting
Apr 15, 2021 12:00 PM Pacific Time (US and Canada)

Click for link to join Zoom Meeting

Meeting ID: 898 0463 9270
Passcode: 181920
— 
Arden Arcade HART (Homeless Assistance Resource Team)
2300 Edison Avenue, Sacramento CA 95821-1714
ardenarcadehart@gmail.comwww.ardenarcadehart.com

Millions of dollars is being left on the table unclaimed because many Americans who are homeless, unsheltered or low income are not sure how to obtain this money. Nine million Americans who do not file taxes normally had not claimed their $1200 stimulus checks six months after passage of the April 2020 Cares Act (10.8 billion dollars of benefits). I attempted to boil down internet information on how to claim your rightful benefit into bullet points below.

PLEASE SHARE WIDELY. 

1) There have been 3 cash payouts related to Covid relief to most Americans, including dependent children – $1200 in the Spring of 2020, $600 in the winter of 2020/21 and $1400 most recently for a total of $3200 per person. This does not include payments for unemployment support, rent relief, food benefits, etc. 

2) A person below the income threshold  for filing federal taxes ($12,400 for an individual and $24,800 for a married couple)  is eligible for these payments. See IRS form here <https://www.irs.gov/coronavirus/non-filers-enter-payment-info-here>.

3) If you filed a 2019 federal return or used the non-filers IRS tool (now closed since Nov. 21, 2020 ) you will get the most recent stimulus automatically. 

4) Everyone else not in category 3) must file a 2020 federal tax return even if not required to under IRS income guidelines, to get the latest ($1400)  payment. This will also give them the option to claim a Recovery Rebate Credit including all 3 payments, if they did not receive the first two stimulus payments. 

3) You may file the 1040 Tax Form on-line for free on the IRS web site if your income is $72,000 or less  or print a tax form, fill out and sign and mail to IRS. Here is the printable 2-page 1040 tax form. <https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/f1040.pdf>. You will need a social security number and permanent mailing address. Also, instructions on how to file federal taxes for free are here <https://www.irs.gov/filing/free-file-do-your-federal-taxes-for-free>.

4) IRS has a search tool to find free tax preparation services from volunteers, which can be used by persons making $57.000 or less, people with disabilities, those with limited English or those 60 years of older. 

5) For those without internet or smart phone connection, you can dial 211 in Sacramento or use the 211 web site: <https://www.211sacramento.org/211/online-database/categories/financial-help/tax-preparation-help/> to find local free tax preparation services. 

6) The 211 Sacramento hotline can also assist persons to  get official California ID cards (driving or non-driving). 

7) IRS is working with FDIC in assisting persons to set up bank accounts. Stimulus payments can then be sent directly to banK accounts by EFT. 

8) Payments can be deposited directly to benefit cards associated with Soc. Sec. retirement, survivor or disability benefits, railroad retirement, SSI, or VA benefits if eligible. 

9) Payments can also be mailed by check or added to a prepaid debit card. Organizations serving homeless persons, such as Loaves and Fishes or faith-based organizations, may provide free P.O. boxes. 

10) Payments to persons without a fixed address or bank account are difficult.  You can still go to a federal tax return office and file a claim for your money which will be put on an electronic debit card, informally known as an Electronic Impact Payment (EIP) card.

11) You can visit an IRS Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) Office but an appt. is needed in advance. Here is a link to local Sacramento area offices within 25 miles of zip 95814 <https://irs.treasury.gov/freetaxprep/jsp/vita.jsp?zip=95814&lat=38.5824933&lng=-121.4941738&radius=25> or use this finder tool for other offices <https://irs.treasury.gov/freetaxprep/>. United Way also has a 211 Economic Impact Payment Helpline at (844) 322-3639. 

12) Households with new babies in 2020, persons who earned less in 2020 than in 2019 and first time young adult filers may also be eligible for these benefits.