Wheels…and Boots on the Ground

Winter shelter is in the rear view mirror but Housing El Dorado’s van is still in service. Colleen Ivazes has put it to good use providing transportation services to folks working their way upward. Some of the transportation needs include medical appointments, rides to and from work, court dates, trips to the methadone clinic, and relocation assistance.

Boots on the ground activities have included finding safe housing for vulnerable women in recovery and, for medically fragile individuals. When she’s not on the road, Colleen procures, warehouses, and distributes clothing, hygiene items and camping gear. Additionally, she provides transportation to Friday Showers (and a hearty Thank You to our partners in the Friday Day Navigation and Shower Program: Green Valley Community Church and Housing El Dorado).

Where in the World is Ron Sachs?

You may have noticed Ron Sachs is missing in action in JSS activities. He is no longer seen working hand in hand with the people on the streets of Placerville. You no longer see him at the Upper Room. But, make no mistake, he is still busy pursuing another of his passions – Biblical Archeology.

Ron recently donated his extensive library to Foothills United Methodist Church and now serves as curator of their Biblical Archaeology Library.

A year ago, Ron stepped down as JSS President and handed the reins to Colleen Ivazes. He remained active on the board as a Member-at-Large until March of this year, seeing the organization through the transition and merger with The Lighted Candle. Feeling he had fulfilled his mission, he turned to caring for his wife, Doris, and devoting time to establishing the Biblical Archeology Library.

He has served unhoused populations in one capacity or another since his teen years. At the age of 54, through the misfortunes of divorce and the loss of his business, he found himself homeless. After five months he was able to turn his situation around, finding a great job and settling in the Los Angeles area. There he met his present wife, Doris who invited him to work with her providing food to a shelter. Hooked not only by Doris, but by service to the homeless of Los Angeles County, he helped found the East San Gabriel Valley Coalition for the Homeless. Working with 30 local churches they developed a Winter Shelter, Emergency Assistance Center, and four transitional homes. That robust organization has grown and now has an annual budget over a million dollars.

In 2006, Ron and Doris moved to El Dorado County, bringing their passion for service to the homeless with them. He soon founded Job’s Shelter of the Sierras and began distributing supplies to the people on the streets. He also joined with participants of regional churches and served on the board of Directors in the establishment of Hangtown Haven, a short-lived but briefly successful encampment. After the demise of Hangtown Haven, he served on the steering committee for the Nomadic Shelter, a program that provided winter shelter for several years. When the COVID pandemic shut down the Nomadic Shelter, he has continued to work with interested people tirelessly seeking solutions for the unsheltered of the Western Slope.

And now he has passed the baton. The current board of directors for JSS include, President Colleen Ivazes, Vice President and Treasurer Nichole Paine, Secretary Melody Moore and Members-at-Large Brian Smith and Tamara Janies. With Ron’s legacy and the recent merger with The Lighted Candle, we look forward to a bright and enduring future of service on the Western Slope.

JSS Elected to El Dorado Opportunity Knocks (EDOK) Continuum of Care (CoC)

On June 22, 2022, Nichole Paine (our Vice President / Treasurer) was elected to the El Dorado Opportunity Knocks (EDOK) Continuum of Care (CoC) as a Homeless Service Provider on the Western Slope of El Dorado County. This election allows JSS to work alongside scores of other homeless service programming providers in El Dorado County to tackle homelessness in our County.

On May 6, 2022, the County finally adopted the “Collectively Building: A Community Plan to Prevent and End Homelessness in El Dorado County.” The final plan can be found here. Implementation of the key strategic priorities of the plan are underway with the help of the CoC and community partners.

The top priority of El Dorado CoC and El Dorado County is to implement emergency housing solutions for homeless individuals as quickly as possible. El Dorado staff is leading the efforts to move this key strategy forward. For a detailed First Year Implementation Plan, see Appendix E of the Collectively Building Plan. 

The following committees have been formed to implement the top priorities of the strategic plan:

​1. Homelessness Prevention and Diversion

2. Institutional Transitions (criminal legal system, medical, foster care system)

3. Shared Housing 

4. Safe Parking

5. Landlord Outreach and Engagement

Nichole currently serves on the Shared Housing Committee and is working with new JSS Board Member Tamara Janies to join the Homelessness Prevention and Diversion Committee.

Charlie McDonald

HED Announces Charlie McDonald as Program Manager

HED announced Monday that they have selected a Program Manager for their Pathways Winter Lodging Program. Job’s Shelters has worked closely with Housing El Dorado to develop this program, and we are glad to see it coming to fruition.

Housing El Dorado has brought together three local churches to provide shelter. Housing El Dorado is providing program management, transportation, and overnight supervision in addition to the area churches hosting the program. We would like to commend Green Valley Community Church, Discovery Hills Church, and Foothills United Methodist Church for opening their arms, hearts, and doors to those in need.

This week, HED put out a call for volunteers. Volunteers are currently needed Saturdays and Mondays from 4pm to 11pm as well as Sundays and Tuesdays from 6am to 8am. Positions vary and may include driving, check-in, evening supervision, and AM supervision and breakdown. For more information, visit HousingElDorado.org.

Winter Shelter for the Homeless

As of this writing, Housing El Dorado has secured 3 nights per week of shelter through their Pathways Winter Lodging Program. Shelter will begin January 1st and run through March 31st, 2022. Currently, there are 3 area churches participating, though there are hopes to add more. A thank you to Discovery Hills Evangelical Church, Green Valley Community Church, and Foothills United Methodist Church for coming together to make the Winter Lodging Program a reality for the un-housed of the western slope.

Merger with The Lighted Candle Complete

This week, Job’s Shelters of the Sierra received notice that the merger with The Lighted Candle is complete. In addition to JSS taking up their TLC’s programming, TLC has donated over $60,000 to Job’s Shelters of the Sierra. Thank you to Pete Brown and the TLC Board for seeing the JSS vision. Watch our Facebook page for updates on programming!

Michael…A Success Story

Over the last few weeks, JSS has had the opportunity to help an unhoused individual, Michael.

Michael was put in contact with JSS when he was dropped off at the local Social Security office with nothing but his wheelchair, the clothes on his back, and his service dog, Pooh. Our new President, Colleen, was able to assist Michael with straightening out his SSI, visiting Health & Human Services for emergency benefits, and securing him housing at an area Board & Care Home. Additionally, she was able to find a loving, long term foster for Pooh.

  • Michael & Pooh
    Pooh was found a loving long-term foster while Michael gets the care he needs.

Covid-19 Shot Locations😃

Covid-19 Shot Locations

The following schedule is confirmed for the California State Public Health contracted mobile vaccination unit, SnapNurse, which is offering free, no appointment needed, COVID-19 Vaccine Clinics throughout El Dorado County for a limited time. There are more tentative dates and sites pending. Pfizer (age 12+) and J&J (age 18+) are available at all SnapNurse Mobile Clinics.
 
Please pass this information on to help make sure the people that need and want this information will hear about these opportunities. Feel free to make flyers, post on social media, or communicate whichever way works best for you to help spread the word. 
 
You can also follow El Dorado County Government on Facebook, https://www.facebook.com/ElDoradoCountyNews, and County of El Dorado on Twitter, https://twitter.com/CountyElDorado, for more updates. For other COVID-19 vaccine clinic sites in your area visit https://myturn.ca.gov. Lastly, anyone age 12 and older is welcome to schedule an appointment for a COVID-19 Vaccine at 931 Spring Street Public Health Clinic (upstairs).
 
Saturday, July 3rd, 9:30am-12pm and 1:30-5pm, El Dorado Beach – 1004 Lakeview Ave, South Lake Tahoe 96150
Tuesday, July 6th, 9am-12pm and 1-5pm, Georgetown Fire Station 61 – 6281 Main Street, Georgetown 95634
Wednesday, July 7th, 9am-12pm, Ponte Palmero – 3081 Ponte Morino Dr, Cameron Park 95682
Wednesday, July 7th, 3-7pm, Holiday Market – 4653 Mt Aukum Rd, Placerville 95667
Thursday, July 8th, 11am-2pm and 3-7pm, Forklift Market  – 3333 Coach Ln, Cameron Park 95682
Saturday, July 10th, 3-7pm, Holiday Market – 5030 Ellinghouse Dr, Cool 95614
Tuesday, July 13th, 3-7pm, Bijou Elementary School  –  3501 Spruce Ave, South Lake Tahoe 96150
Wednesday, July 14th, 9:30am-12pm and 1:30-5pm, El Dorado Beach – 1004 Lakeview Ave, South Lake Tahoe 96150
Saturday, July 17th, 11am-2pm and 3-7pm, Nugget Market –  4500 Post St, El Dorado Hills 95762
Monday, July 19th, 12-2pm, Grizzly Flats Community Church – 5601 Sciaroni Rd, Grizzly Flats 95636
Tuesday, July 20th, (time TBD), Western Slope Health Center – 3280 Washington St, Placerville 95667
Wednesday, July 21st, 11am-2pm and 3-7pm, El Dorado Hills Town Center – 4364 Town Center Blvd, El Dorado Hills 95672
Tuesday, July 27th, 9am-12pm and 1-5pm, Georgetown Fire Station 61 – 6281 Main Street, Georgetown 95634
Wednesday, July 28th, 3-7pm, Holiday Market – 4653 Mt Aukum Rd, Placerville 95667
Thursday, July 29th, 9am-12pm, Ponte Palmero – 3081 Ponte Morino Dr, Cameron Park 95682
Friday, July 30th, 11am-2pm and 3-7pm, Forklift Market  – 3333 Coach Ln, Cameron Park 95682
Saturday, July 31st, 3-7pm, Holiday Market – 5030 Ellinghouse Dr, Cool 95614
 
Thank you and Happy 4th of July weekend!
 

  

Issue #179 😃Homeless Update

Shariff Dept. HOT (Homeless Outreach Team) and Placerville Police have started their collaborative back up. We began again on June 16th.
 
From the left: Marshall Medical, Community Health Workers attending to any and all medical issues a homeless person might have. Then we, have JSS giving out the necessary hygiene items necessary to survive on the street; mainly toilet paper, underwear, and socks being the most needed items. Then The Upper Room passing out burritos Then the Sheriff Dept as well as Placerville Police recording and assisting the homeless population in any way they can. The HOT gatherings will continue throughout the year, done periodically.
      …………………………………………………………………
 
JSS and Marshall Medical working with “SnapNurse” a cooperative entiy of the California State and El Dorado County working together in giving Covid-19 shots to our rural residents. Marshall and JSS come along and give medical advice to all those who take the Covid-19 shot. Ron gets the vital signs before Shaunda does the medical advising.
 
Shaunda Crane, the leader of the Marshall Medical gang and a State representative on site in Grizzly Flats on June 24th. Just having fun.
              ………………………………………………………
 
And yes, John, Brian and Richard are serving the homeless population while at the Upper Room on Mondays and Thursdays, and Ron at the “Open Door” project in Sly Park. Then with Marshall Med. Community Health workers.

THIS IS WHERE YOUR DONATIONS END UP, on the street to the homeless and at-risk persons in our community.