* JOINT RELEASE FROM NEVADA COUNTY, CITY OF GRASS VALLEY, GRASS VALLEY POLICE DEPARTMENT AND HOSPITALITY HOUSE *
Nevada County Behavioral Health, City of Grass Valley, Grass Valley Police Department, and Hospitality House are assisting up to 24 unhoused residents in securing shelter and housing over the next month. The agencies are decommissioning a homeless camp near Highway 49 and Dorsey Drive - an area selected due to the density of people camping at the site and fire risk.
This initiative is made possible through one-time state funding, including grants from the Behavioral Health Bridge Housing Program and the Encampment Resolution Fund, which the County successfully applied for to address urgent housing and public safety needs. Additional support is being provided through contributions from the landowner and funding from the City of Grass Valley’s Measure B fire mitigation program.
“Addressing the complex issue of homelessness requires true collaboration,” said Grass Valley Police Chief Alex Gammelgard. “By working closely with our community partners, we’re not only supporting some of our most vulnerable unhoused residents but also improving overall public safety for the entire Grass Valley community. This is the kind of collaboration that produces meaningful, lasting results.”
While not everyone from the encampment will receive permanent housing, every effort is being made to provide immediate shelter, support services, and long-term resources for as many individuals as possible.
Individuals are being supported through a combination of landlord partnerships, shelter beds at Hospitality House, rental assistance, and placement in treatment centers when needed. The grants are also funding a landlord liaison team, coordinated by FREED Center for Independent Living, which provides incentives for private landlords to rent to clients who may have poor credit or rental histories. These incentives include larger security deposits and rental coverage for up to one year and supporting the landlord through the client’s tenancy.
“Person by person, we are trying to figure out what the solution is for each individual,” said Nevada County Behavioral Health Director Phebe Bell.
Supervisor Lisa Swarthout, whose district includes the encampment, said she appreciates the collaborative effort. “Although there is much work to be done on this issue, this clean-up is a great start to getting people out of high fire risk areas and into some sort of sheltered situation,” she said.
Nancy Baglietto, executive director of Hospitality House, is pleased the nonprofit can be part of the initiative. “We are fortunate in Nevada County to have the kind of agency partners who are committed to finding solutions that both address the needs of our unsheltered residents while also prioritizing the interests of our larger community,” she said.
The initiative is part of a broader collaboration to reduce fire hazards and improve public safety. The Grass Valley Police Department is further working with the landowner and the City of Grass Valley’s Measure B fire mitigation program to reduce fire fuels in the area. This multi-agency approach is focused not only on supporting vulnerable residents, but also on mitigating environmental impacts and enhancing overall safety for the broader Grass Valley and Nevada County communities, especially in locations that are more susceptible to wildfire threats.
To further these efforts, a community cleanup event is scheduled for July 16. All listed partners will participate to remove trash accumulation from the unhoused campsites, helping to reduce fire danger, minimize environmental impact, and address ongoing public safety risks associated with the encampments. Those who would like to participate in the cleanup effort may contact Sgt. Clint Lovelady at clovelady@gvpd.net.
***
Photo of cleanup effort provided by Brendan Phillips of the HOME (Homeless Outreach and Medical Engagement) Team.