Homeless w/no shelter this winter

20 homeless persons who were deemed as “at risk” have been housed in a hotel under direction and supervision of the El Dorado County Covid-19 task force. 2 persons could not bring themselves to follow the rules and directions and had to be removed. As the Covid-19 Task force had been staying in touch with the homeless community and assisting them to help prevent the spreading the virus; we have not seen any spread of the virus among the homeless population. THAT IS GREAT NEWS! Nice warm weather and being “out and about” has been wonderful.
        
 
COME NOVEMBER AND THE WINTER WEATHER AND OUR HOMELESS POPULATION WILL BE WITHOUT SHELTER. That is the way it looks now.

 

What has to change: A. One non-profit entity needs to take on the responsibility and liability to take on the task of providing and supervising a shelter location. B. A Privately-or County-owned building. A location to house the shelter with proper “Use Permits.” C. County financing is possible. D. State and Federal financing available.

A project needs Funding, Facilities and an Agency to run it.

 

WHO OR WHAT CAN TAKE THIS
RESONSABILITY ON?

In November of 2009 the Nomadic Shelter was conceived and activated by the faith community. JSS was there. The Nomadic Shelter has never had 7 churches hosting the shelter. (one for each night) For 10 years 5 churches of the Faith Community have tried to handle it, some churches doubling up. Now the Volunteers are worn out! Now the churches are worn out after 10 winters.

If the homeless citizens of our county are out in the cold weather, who cares? Humans of the same species? Dog of the gutter? Who/What cares?
       
JSS persons, Brian, Collene and John are out every Monday and Thursday providing the necessary hygiene items to our homeless population in an attempt to keep them healthy and to show them that they are thought of as humans as ourselves. Do you have an answer to the Homeless problem?
Do you know who our Homeless are and the percentage of them who can’t be helped by just providing a building? Let us look at the numbers.

We have 613 persons counted as homeless in El Dorado County; 63% are Male; 35% are Female; 2% Non-conforming; —— 42% have Mental Health Disabilities (257 persons); 36% have Chronic Health Conditions (220 persons); 30% admitted to Substance Abuse (183 persons); 24% have Physical Disabilities (147 persons); 7% have Developmental Disabilities (42 persons); Or combinations of the above. The figure of 30% substance abuse is way below the figure that I have experienced in the field as well as in the winter shelters. Some, as myself, have estimated a many as 50-60% are addicted to drugs or alcohol. Are there homeless just like you and me, but without income and a sheltered place to live???? Yes, I was one. And I know 10 who were homeless but now work and pay taxes and some now own homes.
 

Ever think of who the “homeless” really are?
Now you know.