El Dorado County supervisors fail to approve new navigation center and homeless shelter

EL DORADO COUNTY, Calif. - During their meeting Tuesday, the El Dorado County Board of Supervisors failed to pass a planned navigation center and emergency shelter for the west slope's unhoused population. Construction was slated to begin on September 8.

The proposed $3.7 million center would have been built on Perks Court in Placerville and would have provided the county with a much-needed year-round facility. El Dorado County is one of only four counties in the state that do not have a shelter. It was to be operated by the experienced Volunteers of America. This facility was planned to provide El Dorado County’s homeless neighbors with shelter, food, more cost-effective access to preventative health care services, and support services to help the homeless move into permanent housing.

The 51,000-square-foot project was planned near the US-50 onramp adjacent to Missouri Flat Road with a fence, locked gates, lockable storage for shelter residents, dog kennels for occupants with pets, and a 60-bed structure with partitions for privacy. The project area had men's and women's restrooms, laundry facilities, a covered community area outside, a welcome center, offices, and meeting rooms for resident appointments.

Originally scheduled to be voted on during a special meeting on July 28, a last-minute complaint filed anonymously with the California Fair Political Practices Commission prevented Supervisor Wendy Thomas from participating and the Board voted to continue to vote to August 23.

A line of residents against the shelter made their way to the podium during Tuesday's Supervisor's meeting. Also speaking Tuesday were some of the homeless who would benefit. The unhoused women who spoke said they are scared, and a shelter would give them security.

The vote for the center needed a 4/5 vote from the Board of Supervisors (BOS) to get construction started. They voted 3-2 in favor with Supervisors Turnboo and Parlin voting no, so the project is not approved at this time.

Housing El Dorado (HED), a local nonprofit focused on housing affordability and unhoused services within El Dorado County, was the leader in creating the Perks Court solution.

"We are incredibly disappointed and sad with the outcome of the BOS Meeting," said HED President Maureen Dion-Perry. "It seems incredibly callous and fiscally irresponsible to not move forward with Perks Ct after all the work that has been done and all the need that exists in our community."

The County had spent months looking into buying a hotel in Pollock Pines for an emergency shelter, then abandoned the plan. They then started working with the City of Placerville to identify locations and the most viable was the Perks Court location. This process started before the Caldor Fire and resumed this year.

"County leadership has never been so close as you are right now to taking the significant steps necessary to mitigate and reduce the effects of homelessness in our community," Placerville Kara Taylor wrote to the Supervisors. "As we have pursued solutions to this crisis over these past few years, we have learned an important lesson. There are some who want to obstruct this project, no matter where it is located or how comprehensively the facility plans address the concerns that are raised."

Studies have shown a professionally operated navigation center and an emergency shelter is a cost-effective approach. Proponents also stated how the Perks Court center would help with cleaning up the streets and neighborhoods by having the homeless in one area.

HED shared studies that show the presence of a navigation center does not increase crime in the area or decrease property values, which was a major complaint of the speakers.

The County had previously adopted its Strategic Plan to End and Prevent Homelessness in El Dorado County, and made a creation of a navigation center and emergency shelter a top priority.

In April 2022, the Board declared a shelter crisis which allowed them to bypass county homeless shelter regulations so they could quickly set up the navigation center and shelter in the Placerville area.

Sheriff D'Agostini had previously suggested a homeless camp/shelter could be built next to the new sheriff's facility on Missouri Flat Road. It was discussed with a wire fence around the perimeter, but opponents said many of the homeless are dealing with fears of law enforcement, and placing a center next door would not be conducive to a successful operation. That was just an idea and never progressed to building plans like the Perks Court

HED had earlier issued a letter to the public and supervisors to correct inconsistencies on flyers that had been distributed by opponents including the El Dorado County Republican Party.

HED compiled a list of concerns and questions that have been circulating regarding the proposed Perks Court project, along with responses:

1) Concern: Is the proposed facility to be a “locked” facility? Response: The facility will not be “locked,” guests have in-and-out privileges to address their social, medical, and psychological needs, such as job interviews, visits to medical facilities and appointments, sobriety groups or treatment, and other social and service programs to promote self-sufficiency.

2) Concern: Is there any evidence that the property was contaminated due to its reported use as a gas station? Response: El Dorado County Facilities staff consulted with Environmental Management staff who stated, “I have reviewed all of the available documents and emails regarding environmental conditions at or near the Perks Court properties and there doesn’t appear
to be any significant environmental conditions present.” References: Memo: August 15, 2022 memo, including Tabor Consulting report); Perks Court environment study_2001

3) Concern: Are there pedestrian safety issues? Response: Perks Court has access for pedestrians via the bike/pedestrian walkway that is adjacent to Perks Court and via the sidewalks on the north/east side of Missouri Flat
Road. The Forni Road/Missouri Flat intersection has stop lights and a pedestrian crossing. Also, the Navigation Center and Emergency Shelter receives guests via the HMIS referral system, which minimizes the ‘in and out’ traffic.

4) Concern: Will Sierra Harm Reduction Coalition be distributing needles or other paraphernalia at or around the Shelter & Navigation Center? Response: No. Volunteers of America’s Shelter facilities do not permit alcohol or illegal drugs. Guests may not use alcohol or illegal drugs in or around the shelter area. Guests are screened and belongings are searched prior to entry to ensure that illicit substances do not enter the facility.

5) Concern: Will El Dorado County see an influx of homeless individuals because EDC offers services? Response: The majority of our homeless neighbors are lifelong or even generational residents of El Dorado County. “Recent data provided to the state by 42 of the 44 local agencies that manage homeless dollars shows that between 2018 and 2020, 96% of people who accessed homeless services did so in a single jurisdiction….which suggests
that homelessness is not an issue of migration.” In fact, local surveys also indicate people living on the streets are typically from the surrounding neighborhood. Additionally, as all but 4 California counties have homeless shelters and other services, there’s no reason our Navigation Center would be a beacon to attract homeless individuals from elsewhere. Finally, there is no data supporting the claim that EDC will see an increase in homelessness because of a Shelter & Navigation Center.

6) Concern: Why Housing First? Response: Housing First is a philosophy that values flexibility, individualized support, client choice, and autonomy. It never has been housing only, and it never should be. Supportive Services, like those that will be received at the Navigation Center & Shelter, are a vital part of the Housing First model. That means both formal supports (like a doctor/nursing care, therapists, and social workers) and informal supports such as reconnecting with family, friends, and faith groups. Housing First is the only model that has been shown to successfully combat homelessness, as it allows a person to address their basic needs (food, water, air, shelter) - which in turn gives them the opportunity to begin to address their other needs (social and psychological). Additionally, in order to make use of Federal and State grant monies, jurisdictions must use Housing First
guidelines in their homeless programming.

7) Concern: What about Pierroz Rd. as proposed by County Chief Administrative Officer, Don Ashton? Response: Pierroz Road was investigated and vetted by Placerville City Staff. Per City Staff, the location is not viable for a short or long-term Navigation Center and Shelter. The location is not ideal in terms of traffic and may require a traffic light to be installed. In addition, the location is adjacent to a daycare, which does not work, given that there are homeless individuals who may be sex offenders that need to utilize the Navigation and Shelter. The property is not located near services that our homeless neighbors are in need of. In addition, the property is already built-up, leaving no room for outdoor space for our homeless neighbors who are guests of the Shelter & Navigation Center; and we
don’t know the condition of the interior of the building. Finally, the area is not pedestrian friendly and would require additional investments in order to make it so.

"It is unclear where things will go from here, we are conferring with key people to determine our strategy," said Dion-Perry.

The $3.7M project was to be funded 80 percent with State and Federal Homeless Grants; 11 percent Public Health American Rescue Plan Act Funding; and 9 percent County / City American Rescue Plan Act Funding.