We assisted Job’s Shelters of the Sierra (JSS) in outreach through asking our members to contact the board of supervisors regarding the disposition of the now-empty Placerville juvenile hall. The idea put forth by JSS was to turn the empty facility over to the Nomadic Shelter for use as a homeless shelter and a mental health facility. The fate of the facility will be decided at a later date.
An announcement from JSS:
A very big development: The Placerville City Police will begin working with the County Sheriff’s Department and their HOT (homeless outreach team) Team. Within the City of Placerville, the sheriff’s deputies will have a Placerville officer riding with them while they interact with the homeless. Their focus will be on the mentally changed and addicts who are destructive. Also they will assist the homeless population who are not destructive and need help. This is a great change and a sensible step in helping our local population without housing.
New Workgroup Forming: Affordable Housing and Homelessness
This topic emerged as a priority at our January planning meeting. Therefore EDP is joining forces with the EDC Democratic Party to work with our county agencies and the nonprofits serving the homeless. There is a lot of important work going on among all those entities, including the development of a five-year county strategic plan. The EDP workgroup’s focus will be to address the issue of homelessness through community education, advocacy, and fundraising. Special thanks to Daniel Del Monte, EDC Deputy Director of Community Services, who spent time educating us about the activities of the county. Supervisor John Hidahl, District 1, is the liaison to the County EDOK/Continuum of Care Organization.
Help Wanted: we are looking for people with grant-writing skills to assist nonprofits.
Contact Jamie Beutler at beutlerjamie@gmail.com or Maureen Dion-Perry at dionperry@att.net to get involved.