City of Placerville grants use of Main Street building; county considering funding
Housing El Dorado could receive up to $115,000 in funding from El Dorado County and has the use of a building owned by the city of Placerville for its Pathways Winter Lodging Program. The group has its sights set on a fully functioning winter shelter program, offering beds and respite from the elements seven nights a week to those in need.
In late December, just before a big storm was predicted to bring snow to elevations as low as 1,800 feet, City Manager Cleve Morris reached out to Housing El Dorado’s Board President Maureen Dion-Perry to ascertain what services the nonprofit had available to homeless individuals.
“I told him that we didn’t have anything,” Dion-Perry said.
And then she said she told the city manager, “I was just going to contact you about potential city building use.”
Morris gave her query some thought and got back to Dion-Perry to propose a pilot program that would offer an emergency shelter in a city-owned building to help get vulnerable individuals off the streets, at least through the winter storm.
Housing El Dorado had been working with the Foothill Interfaith Collaboration, a group of pastors, faith leaders and faith community members, to provide shelter for as many nights a week as possible. Four churches had stepped up to offer space one evening a week — Discovery Hills Evangelical Free Church, Green Valley Community Church, Faith Episcopal Church and Foothills United Methodist Church.
Churches and collaborators who were unable to provide space for the shelter program offered volunteers, donations and resources. The Food Bank of El Dorado County provided snacks, drinks and other grab-and-go foodstuffs for the program.
Pathways Winter Lodging buses clients in on a nightly basis to each location from either the Upper Room Dining Hall or the Walmart transfer station.
Morris brought a proposed memorandum of understanding between Housing El Dorado and the city of Placerville before the City Council Jan. 11. It included a request to authorize a special temporary use permit that would allow Housing El Dorado to utilize the building at 525 Main St. three nights a week through March 2022.
Morris said he allowed Pathways to run a pilot program with a promise that he would bring the program to City Council for final approval. The program was a success and run strictly and smoothly, according to Morris. He recommended council members approve the temporary use permit and MOU.
Barring a few concerns relating to the local homeless population being drawn to the location and possible drug and other illegal activity in the area, the public present was largely in favor of the program.
Pathways Program Manager Charlie McDonald said the organization is being respectful and mindful of resident concerns and doing everything it can to mitigate those concerns.
Those in need of shelter are bussed to shelter locations and are not permitted to loiter in outdoor areas except to take hourly, supervised breaks in the back of the building. Walk-up clients are not permitted at any shelter location.
After an in-depth discussion City Council voted unanimously to approve the MOU and temporary use permit for the use of the building through March 2022.
The Mountain Democrat reported in April 2021 the Placerville City Council authorized Morris to negotiate the purchase of 525 Main St. — the old U.S. Post Office annex building — after agreements had been reached splitting the sale of two county-owned buildings in Placerville. The city of Placerville plans to enter into an agreement with Arts and Culture El Dorado for the use of that building for an arts and agriculture space.
“We are pleased that the city has offered the annex building as a nomadic shelter on a temporary basis as we continue to raise funds and develop programming for that space,” said Terry LeMoncheck, Arts and Culture El Dorado’s executive director.
At the Jan. 25 El Dorado County Board of Supervisors meeting District 3 Supervisor and Vice Chair Wendy Thomas, a past mayor of Placerville, introduced an item to allocate up to $115,000 from the contingency fund as a one-time funding support for the Pathways shelter program through Housing El Dorado.
“I think it is time for the county of El Dorado to step up and partner with them, this year, while we’re waiting on progress, and fund this,” Thomas said. “This is one thing that we can do this year.”
Staff would be directed to work with the Food Bank of El Dorado to offset some of the expense and come back with a final number and a funding agreement with the El Dorado Community Foundation at the Feb. 8 county supervisors meeting. Housing El Dorado is a fund with El Dorado Community Foundation.
District 5 Supervisor Sue Novasel asked where the funding would come from.
The county’s Chief Administrative Officer Don Ashton affirmed that the contingency fund is set aside for unexpected expenses outside the budget process. He reminded supervisors that when the fund transfer comes back to the board it will take four votes to pass. However, this would be the first time the contingency fund had been utilized this fiscal year.
District 2 Supervisor George Turnboo agreed that bringing the food bank on board would be a good idea.
“They have a lot of supplies they can actually bring to this to actually support these people,” he said. “I think it’s a great thing.”
Placerville resident Mandi Rodriguez said she has concerns about offering to house people who may be addicted to drugs.
“We keep calling it homeless,” she said. “Really the issue is mental health and drugs … we continue throwing money at housing people and not addressing the core needs.”
Dion-Perry admitted to the struggle involved in getting the nomadic shelter program running in the midst of another COVID-19 surge and in the post-Caldor Fire environment.
She spoke on the demographics of the individuals who have utilized the shelters — veterans, disabled, chronically ill, jail discharges, patients discharged from the hospital and others. Dion-Perry said more navigation services would be offered through the Pathways program with the help of the proposed funding.
“The aim is to be discreet as well, knowing this is a very public place on Main Street,” she said.
County resident Ruth Carter directed the dialogue to affordable housing.
“The average wage needed to survive in this county is around $29 an hour,” said county resident Ruth Carter. “I don’t know about you, but I don’t know a whole lot of people making over $29 an hour.
“A larger issue in the community is affordable housing and income-based housing,” she continued. “As a component to that we need to have some housing that addresses the additional needs of substance abuse and mental illness.”
John Gainsbrugh, a local homeless advocate, spoke to the need for a permanent shelter. “What we need is a year-round shelter that 54 of California’s 58 counties currently have,” he said.
“This isn’t the long-term solution,” he continued. “But in planning, there’s long-term, short-term and immediate. This is an immediate crisis.”
The funding would also help Housing El Dorado cover administrative costs, insurance, fuel and vehicle maintenance, supplies and COVID-19 testing.
“This provides Housing El Dorado with the security of funding for the winter lodging program,” said Dion Perry. “This will allow us to put our energy into services and advocacy and not so much fundraising.”
Housing El Dorado is supported by members of the community and with the addition of county and city support, the work of Housing El Dorado will be easier to accomplish, according to Dion-Perry.
The Pathways Winter Shelter Program is available to anyone who needs the services. To volunteer or to get more information on the shelter program visit housingeldorado.org or call (530) 237-4901.