Community Services Program

Community Services programs include special grant funded projects which contribute to achieving the goals and priorities set by the Nevada County Board of Supervisors, with staff and public input.

These projects are typically funded by Community Development Block Grants (CDBG) or Community Services Block Grants (CSBG) and include general projects, planning and technical assistance, economic development, and community services. A portion of these funds are allocated for local non-profit agencies serving low-income residents in Nevada County.

Public Hearing Closeout of Odyssey House Rehab Project Grant

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN THAT the Nevada County Health and Human Services Agency will conduct a public hearing on June 19, 2023, at 11:30 a.m., or as soon thereafter, as the matter will be heard, in the Coyote Conference Room, located at 950 Maidu Ave, Nevada City, California. Members of the public are encouraged to participate in the in-person hearing, to solicit public input on the achievements and financial report of the following item: Closeout of the 17-CDBG-12025 Odyssey House Rehabilitation Project Grant.  The Health and Human Services Agency, on behalf of the County of Nevada, applied to the State of California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD), in response to the 2017 Community Development Block Grant Program (CDBG) – Notice of Available Funding (NOFA), to request a funding allocation in the amount of $3,196,396.00. The award was subsequently amended to provide an additional $439,111.00 in new CDBG Funding and authorize the use of $437,000.00 in Program Income for a total of $4,072,507.00.  Utilizing $4,072,507.00 of the funding allocation for the rehabilitation of the Odyssey House, a transitional housing facility for severely mentally ill adults.  Beneficiaries of the Odyssey House project are presumed categorically eligible low-income individuals in the County of Nevada. Project implementation costs of $3,849,503.00, consisting of the following: site preparation; facility construction, construction management and consulting fees. Grant management costs of $223,004.00. The County has expended $4,072,507.00 of the CDBG funding allocation to complete the Odyssey House Project. The County will disencumber and return none of the CDBG grant funds to the State of California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD), upon closeout of said grant.

The purpose of this public hearing is to give community members an opportunity to evaluate the performance of this project. If you are unable to attend the meeting, written comments on any aspect of the above referenced project are invited and should be addressed to: Rob Choate, Nevada County Health and Human Services Agency, Housing Division, 950 Maidu Ave, Nevada City, CA 95959, or to the following email address rob.choate@nevadacountyca.gov . After the public meeting, the County will proceed with the submission of the Closeout documents and Annual Grantee Performance Report. A public information file, including an Annual Performance Report and other relevant documents, is available for review between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Monday-Friday, in the Health and Human Services Agency located at 950 Maidu Ave, Nevada City, CA 95959. The County of Nevada promotes fair housing and employment opportunities and makes all its programs available to low- and moderate- income families regardless of age, race, color, religion, sex, national origin, sexual preferences, marital status, or disabilities. The location of the public hearing is fully accessible to mobility-impaired individuals. If you require special accommodations to participate in the public hearing, please contact Rob Choate at least 48 hours in advance of the meeting by calling (530) 2659-1645.

Community Development Block Grant (CDBG)

2017 Odyssey House Renovation Project

On July 10, 2018 the County was awarded a $3,196,396 Community Development Block Grant from the Department of Housing and Community Development to renovate its Odyssey House facility. The Odyssey House Adult Residential Program supports severely mentally ill adults transitioning to independent living by providing housing, on site case management and counseling services while promoting daily living and vocational skills. The grant award will allow the County to upgrade the Odyssey House creating a state of the art facility.  With these renovations the program will improve its efficiencies while at the same time increasing its capacity by 31%.  These improvements will allow the County to provide services to a greater number of those in need potentially leading to a positive impact for those that suffer from Chronic Homelessness.   The County anticipates that construction will begin early 2019.

A complete copy of the 2017 CDBG Application can be reviewed.

Community Services Block Grant (CSBG)

The following CSBG funded services are being provided through our network of non-profit organizations:

FREED

FREED provides housing coordination and support services which assist low income clients with locating available housing, eviction prevention and education.  These services are provided through a series of workshops, client based case management and direct assistance.

Hospitality House

Hospitality House Homeless Access Transport program provides low income homeless individuals within the community with access to mainstream benefits by supplying transportation in order to gain assistance from agencies such as Social Services, Mental Health, food banks, Public Health, etc.  Access to mainstream services assist individuals in meeting their basic needs in order to overcome the cycle of homelessness.

Project MANA

Project MANA offers low income residents within the eastern portion of Nevada County with fresh nutrient dense foods through the use of a weekly mobile food pantry.  The Food Distribution program, aims to mitigate the adverse health outcomes that can result from malnutrition and nutrient deficiency by providing individuals with both adequate and nutritious food choices.