Ranch House Project

The Ranch House is one of 14 homes that Nevada County Behavioral Health utilizes to house 85 residents in permanent supportive housing. The Ranch House remodel will take a current single-family dwelling and remodel it into six independent units. This will allow three more clients to be served in the same program but with a higher chance for success and permanency due to the standalone units. This project has outsize benefits for its residents, who might otherwise be at high risk of homelessness and worsening symptoms of mental illness and substance use disorder.

Behavioral Health Supportive Housing Program by the Numbers 

• Nationally, Permanent Supportive Housing (like the Ranch House) is recognized as one of the most important strategies to address homelessness and support people with complex needs 
• There is a severe lack of housing at all levels, and despite access to services and subsidies, based on a recent review, around 30 people (40% of the total) who receive intensive case management from Behavioral Health are either homeless or living in an emergency shelter because there just isn’t housing available  
• Behavioral Health owns, funds, or operates 14 houses or sites in the community and houses over 85 people in these facilities, as well as providing intensive supportive services to another 60+ people in independent housing 

Ranch House Facts 

• The Ranch House has been a permanent home for the same individuals for five to ten years.
• Nobody with a history of violence or sexual offenses is allowed into this program.
• A recent review found no calls for service from neighbors towards the Ranch House.
• Nevada County Facilities ensures the building is well-kept, landscaped, and painted.
• Residents have multiple options for transportation if they do not drive themselves, including Dial-a-Ride, Logisticare, rides from friends or family, and transportation by their case managers.
• All participants in Permanent Supportive Housing are single individuals. The Ranch House currently houses three individuals and will house six when remodeled.
• If the project is approved, an additional site management contract will be initiated, achieving greater stability, and limiting participants to six.
• Because the house has been stable for a long time, neighbors were unsure who to contact with concerns. This has been addressed. Anyone who observes issues or has concerns can call the Behavioral Health Clinical Supervisor at 530-265-1745.

Addressing Community Concerns with the Project: 

• The County has gone through the full and normal process for the Ranch House project, even when not legally required to do so.  
• The County shares concerns about the expanding costs of housing construction and its impacts on this project and on the broader market. No local funds are being utilized. The project is 100% grant funded. 
• The project is funded by two grants specific to this project, which can’t be used for anything else.  
• The adjacent wetlands will be protected. A qualified expert prepared a CEQA report for the project and determined that the project will have a “less than significant” impact on the wetland. Based on discussions with residents, a fence will be installed between the building and the wetland to protect it beyond what is required and to prevent residents and others from traversing it. 
• During the Planning Commission meeting, concerns were expressed about the design of the facility. In response, design changes have been made, including utilizing horizontal siding for the main exterior finish, additional stone accents at both ends of the building, and a decorative arch.    
• This project will not develop the undeveloped portions of the parcel and has been specifically designed to stay within the grading scar of the current single-family dwelling. The same programming will be occurring on the same site, with an increased capacity of three, for a total of six residents.  

Project Timeline