El Dorado County Homelessness Digest

The Tahoe Coalition for the Homeless has announced its search for new leadership after the departure of Executive Director Cheyenne Purrington. In the interim, its board of directors aid the team with daily operations.

It’s a common misconception that a physical address is required to cast a ballot. For individuals living in shelters or encampments, California offers several options for participating in local elections.

The Fair Political Practices Commission has dropped a conflict of interest inquiry aimed at District 3 Supervisor Wendy Thomas, who claims the anonymous complaint that sparked it was “a nasty political hit piece meant to discredit me and derail plans for a [homeless] navigation center.”

El Dorado County supervisors voted to implement a temporary homeless shelter/navigation center at the former juvenile detention facility in Placerville, which includes ending an agreement between the county and Cal Fire for use of the building in seasonal operations.

It appears El Dorado County’s proposed homeless shelter/navigation center will not break ground this fall. A motion to award a construction contract and transfer funds failed to get a necessary four-fifths vote, with Lori Parlin and George Turnboo voting no.

An increase in homelessness and impacts from the Caldor Fire has the Upper Room Dining Hall making plans to expand its dining hall and kitchen services. The nonprofit served around 76,000 meals in 2021.

A California Fair Political Practices Commission complaint has postponed the El Dorado County Board of Supervisors’ plans to build a homeless navigation center and shelter in Placerville. District 3 Supervisor Wendy Thomas recused herself from a July 27 vote on the center, pending clearance from the FPPC. The supervisors continued the matter to Aug. 23.

The Tahoe Coalition for the Homeless is starting a new project at their location called the Bear's Den. They are currently inviting electric companies to submit RFPs to come in and do the much-needed electrical improvements.

Placer County and the El Dorado County Board of Supervisors partnered for the second year in a row to provide a nomadic winter housing program. Operations expanded beyond last year’s 90 days, and the number of filled beds doubled.

After evaluating other potential sites, the El Dorado County Board of Supervisors will focus on opening a short-term homeless shelter at Perk’s Court. Additional reports will be reviewed, and then a short-term lease negotiation is expected.

El Dorado County Public Housing Authority will distribute 70 emergency housing vouchers via the Front Door. Those eligible for the vouchers include both individuals and families who are homeless, have fled domestic violence, and other unstable/dangerous situations.

As El Dorado County moves forward with developing navigation and shelter resources for the local homeless population, leaders from the city of Placerville weighed in on possible sites for facilities inside the city limits.

El Dorado County has declared a shelter crisis as a new strategy to address homelessness on the West Slope. The board directed staff to look into shelter options at the Gold Trail Motor Lodge and Motherlode Lodge and at a Perks Court property owned by the county.

Tenants still waiting on rent relief will now likely have more time before facing eviction. The Legislature voted to extend eviction protections through June 30. The bill now heads to the governor’s desk for his signature.

South Lake Tahoe has seen a significant drop in its homeless population over the past year. Thanks to Project Homekey and the efforts of the Tahoe Coalition for the Homeless, most of South Lake Tahoe’s most vulnerable population now have roofs over their heads.

California Republicans are advocating for a package of bills to tackle homelessness and mental health issues—but they claim their approach is more fiscally responsible.

Volunteers fanned out across the state for the first statewide count of California’s homeless population since 2020. The number is expected to be higher, raising more questions about the impact of the state’s increased spending.

El Dorado County supervisors recently heard a proposal presented by the El Dorado Opportunity Knocks Continuum of Care. Its five-year plan to combat homelessness countywide centers around four goals.

Senator Alex Padilla will introduce legislation to push some $531 billion into affordable housing projects around the country. The bill could dramatically boost federal aid for homelessness and a shortage of affordable housing.

Gov. Gavin Newsom is doling out $50 million to help cities and counties clear out camps and house people living outdoors. San Jose, Richmond and Santa Cruz are among those cities that might benefit.

On Jan. 7, the Boys and Girls Club of Lake Tahoe celebrated with a ribbon-cutting ceremony at the Angel of Tahoe building, which will be the club’s new home base.

El Dorado County’s HOSTESS program has met with much criticism and discussion, and has now been scrapped.

The El Dorado County Board of Supervisors unanimously approved the concept of a managed homeless camp near the El Dorado County Jail in Placerville on Aug. 10. The concept was heard by the Placerville City Council that same night.

The El Dorado County Board of Supervisors voted 4-1 to extend a contract with the Best Western hotel in Pollock Pines to continue to house local homeless individuals. The new contract will have a six-month timeline but is meant to be flexible depending on continued cases of COVID-19.

Governor attaches earmarked monies to budget in what the Merc is calling the “largest state investment in homelessness in U.S. history.”

At a special meeting to discuss homeless camps, the Placerville City Council resolved in a 4-1 vote to ask the county to use American Rescue Plan Act funds for managed camps or shelters in three supervisorial districts. Placerville would contribute property within the city limits toward the effort.

Thanks to the efforts of New Beginnings Gold Country, occupants of a homeless encampment along upper Broadway in Placerville are now keeping the area clean on their own.