A MAGNIFICENT STAR IN THE SKY

Yep, we can smile for those in our community who have the very least. How about Health and Welfare classes? How about Auto Shop Study leading to an Auto Mechanic certification? How about Web Design classes? How about Bible Study/Devotion? How about a small farm/large garden project two days a week? How about House repair project? Yep, and AA and NA counseling and meetings. All available to our citizens who have the very least.

Christ Like Services @ 7500 Green Valley Rd.. Placerville, has it all! contact them at (530)622-2014. This county owes Bob Durell the highest praise and support.

All they ask of anyone is to extend an effort to improve their present condition. And they ask for nothing in return. This is not enabling; it is equipping persons for a future. Yes, and for the community the ability to pay taxes. All this without city/county care, help, or support.

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On the front page of May/30th Mt. Democrat is an article about a local resident who is losing his 6900 square foot home north of town along Highway 49. It is a multimillion-dollar property that the owner apparently cannot make payments on as “part of his family ranch,” so it is in default. According to the article, he owes over $1 million on it.

Now, I normally would feel very bad for a man who is in $1 million default on his property and may soon become homeless, but the man in question is Ron Briggs. Who is Ron Briggs you ask? Mr. Briggs was the chairman of the County Board of Supervisors last year who led the effort to deny the use of the Perks Court property for HTHI on which to build a homeless shelter. He could not see why we needed a homeless shelter in the county and said that the county does not want to “get into the homeless business.” The irony of this situation is beyond description. One has to wonder how he feels about building a homeless shelter in the county now. One could emphasize that this is exactly the situation so many of our homeless have found themselves in with the economy the way it is. He also seemed to have ignored the fact that it was clearly stated that HTHI were offering to design, build and operate the homeless facility on Perks Court without costing the county a penny. Maybe the whole issue is becoming clearer to him now.

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From the data provided from the registered homeless files involving intake information, 01/01/13 to 05/13/14, 17 months, almost a year and a half, is found that out of approximately 799 persons registered, only 117 persons where from out of El Dorado county. That is only 14%. Of those 117 persons, where they “just passing through,” adventurers, world travelers, or just “stuck” here a few days? This should put to rest the argument that if we provide for our homeless population, here in El Dorado county, homeless persons will migrate here to take advantage of what is provided.

With the Community Resource Center on Broadway gone due to the lack of funding for rent, water, utilities, operating supplies, etc.; so is done collecting of information and statistics on our homeless population, a place for those who have the least to take a shower, to use as an address on a job application, to use a locker to secure what possessions they might have, to get information on what is available, if anything, and encouragement.

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Will the new BOS and the Committee on Homeless be any difference than the same old rut that has run in the past? Keep in mind that the difference between a rut and a grave is only the depth. This committee is mandated to find a solution to homelessness, for all homeless persons, including single homeless persons, in a series of meetings, not exceeding 20 hours total. The first meeting consumed 4 hours of that 20. And that meeting consisted of, “my name is, your name is?” and “who do you represent?” Now spread out the remaining 16 hours, at 4 hours per month, in 4 more months. This brings us into September when the citizens and faith-based organizations start into action preparing for the Nomadic Shelter that the county does not participate in. Is this how you want your county government to treat those that you might have to join in the future?

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                                                 SOCKS, YES SOCKS.

JSS is out of socks to be given to our homeless population. They do not have to be new, just clean. Men’s sizes, cotton. I will come pick them up. Churches, now is the time to have that “Sock It To Me” drive.

                                   Just clean, cotton, men’s socks.