Sacramento’s faith community will be providing shelter for the homeless this winter season, as government funding falls short of providing enough resources.

Funding has steadily been falling as the poor economy has necessitated cutbacks, with more than $700,000 coming from Sacramento County in 2008 dwindling to less than $200,000 this year.

Mayor Kevin Johnson said shelters and motel vouchers can provide overnight housing for about 300 homeless, and he is looking for the faith community to supply shelter for another 100 people for the winter season.

“During the warm months, it’s less of an urgency, but when the temperature drops and the rain falls, it’s even that much more of a challenge to make sure we provide shelter for our homeless population,” Johnson said Monday at a press conference.

He applauded the area’s religious communities and said all have joined the Sacramento Steps Forward group, including Christians, Muslims and the Jewish community. Sacramento Steps Forward’s goal is to ensure that there is a system in place to support the area’s homeless and provide them with the resources they need.

Imam Mohammad Abdel Azeez of the Sacramento Area League of Associated Muslims said he remembers reading news reports of people “literally passing away” because of the cold a couple of years ago.

At the time, his congregation collected warm clothes and blankets and distributed them to the homeless.

“We are coming here today to make sure that such tragedy never happens again,” Azeez said. “We can not let our fellow Sacramentans suffer on those cold nights in the winter season.”

According to Pastor Rick Cole of Capital Christian Church, it’s not just Midtown churches that can help.

“There are churches in suburban areas that may not be as tied in and aware,” Cole said. “We need to step up and help and not just rely upon the Midtown churches to make a difference in this way in our community.”

Cole added that the problem is critical.

“We can’t fail at this,” he said. “We need to make sure that every night all through this winter season without fail that there’s a place for those who don’t have shelter over their heads.”

Though at least 10 churches have signed on to help out, Johnson and other church officials said Sacramento Steps Forward is looking to partner with at least another 10 to fill the need.

“I want to encourage other congregations to step up and offer to open their doors for one or two nights a month and be a part of this program and invite their congregation to this time of transformation,” said Brian Baker, dean of Trinity Episcopal Church.

“Even if you’re not part of a congregation, you can volunteer in congregations that are doing this,” he added, saying it is a problem all Sacramentans can help with.

The solution to the problem of homelessness can’t be solved by churches opening their doors in the winter, according to Johnson, but it is a crucial transitional step.

The ultimate goal is permanent housing, and Johnson said he wants to continue to see collaboration with all aspects of the community.

“It’s still a long road, we’d like to have this up in place by next winter,” he said, referring to finding a site for the Safe Ground that homeless advocates have been striving for since the tent city near Cal Expo was dismantled.

Johnson’s goal to find permanent housing is one shared by Sacramento County Supervisor Roger Dickinson.

“(We need) to make sure that we just don’t maintain people in a condition of homelessness, getting by, but that we give them the means and the opportunity to once again be full, participating members of our community,” Dickinson said.

Johnson further urged churches to volunteer by calling his office, where they will be connected with Sacramento Steps Forward. In addition to facilities, Johnson said $70,000 still needs to be collected to fund government-run services for the homeless this winter.

“You see a community coming together,” Johnson said. “City, county working together, the private sector, different regions, different worship houses, different denominations. This is the best of Sacramento.”

Brandon Darnell is a staff reporter for The Sacramento Press.