Providing Housing to Help Solve Homelessness

Homelessness is a complex issue that often stirs up conflicting ideas and solutions. There is, however, one circumstance that most seem to agree upon – that California boasts a significant housing shortage, which exacerbates homelessness. While each County addresses housing uniquely, in Nevada County, agencies like Hospitality House have expanded their strategy to include shelter, interim, transitional, and permanent housing to help meet people where they are at,” and create opportunities that are best suited for each individual.

Since its inception in 2005, Hospitality House has focused on providing emergency shelter to individuals with nowhere to call home. Whether someone needs a safe place to sleep for one night or longer term, shelter remains one of Hospitality House’s primary resources to support Nevada County residents in need. In the early years, Hospitality House operated as a nomadic shelter, relocating from one location to another thanks to the generous support of local faith-based organizations. These faith-based volunteers provided hot meals and a safe space to sleep. The coordination and interfaith effort were inspiring, bringing the community together in pursuit of a common goal.

In 2013, Hospitality House was able to find a home of its own, ironically, at Utah’s Place, located at 1262 Sutton Way. It was affectionately called Utah’s Place after one of its founders, Bruce Phillips, better known as “Utah.” The new location became the local refuge for those seeking shelter. Its convenient location made it accessible and allowed Hospitality House to expand its services, having one place that could provide 24/7 support with staff. Not surprisingly, while emergency shelter is a crucial step for many to get back on their feet, it is not a long-term solution. Only through housing can one overcome homelessness. Over time, Hospitality House began exploring how to best provide “pathways to housing,” broadening its focus to find practical assistance that would transition residents from homelessness to stable housing.

In 2016, Nancy Baglietto assumed the role of executive director, serving as a catalyst for further organizational growth, just as her predecessor, Cindy Maple, had for the ten years prior. While Cindy worked to develop Hospitality House into an effective community resource, Nancy looked toward expanding a variety of housing along the continuum of care and diversifying funding to continue the work as long as Hospitality House was needed. Baglietto helped drive Hospitality House’s long-term vision and strategy – starting with a whiteboard that outlined an effective continuum of housing options. It evolved into a roadmap to better meet individuals where they were at and provide them with individualized support to meet their housing goals. As seen in the images below, the CoC acknowledges the numerous steps individuals take on their path to self-sufficiency.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

With the framework as a backdrop, Hospitality House has continued to expand its program and service offerings, addressing the barriers that many face as they journey back home. Ensuring quality, comprehensive wrap-around case management services were key, and having skilled staff was essential. But even though services and staffing are critical, only housing grants the ultimate solution. And so, Hospitality House, determined to create permanent, lasting solutions, set forth a course to not only advocate for the development of housing but also to become a housing developer.

It’s no secret that Nevada County faces a significant housing shortage. Property values and rents have also increased dramatically. The National Low Income Housing Coalition’s annual Out of Reach report shows that an hourly wage of $49.61 is required to afford a modest 2-bedroom home in California. A worker making minimum wage would need to work 120 hours per week to afford the same home. This leaves many people struggling to keep a roof over their heads, especially if an unforeseen circumstance such as an illness, job loss, or death in the family pops up. Not surprisingly, help with housing is the number one request in California among people calling 211 for assistance. Hospitality House sought solutions to help address this challenge for its clients and added the following housing projects to its programs. The housing opportunities listed below are either completed or currently under construction, providing housing options for lower-income households.

Brunswick Commons is a 40-unit apartment building located in Grass Valley. When it officially opened in 2022, 50 formerly homeless individuals, including eight children, received keys to their new homes. Hospitality House completed this housing project in partnership with multiple organizations, including the County of Nevada, the City of Grass Valley, the Regional Housing Authority, private funders, and generous donors, among others. It is a collaborative effort to provide more housing options for lower-income households in an ideal location that offers easy access to shopping, transportation, and supportive services. All located in the Brunswick Basin.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

What makes Brunswick Commons so special is that it provides permanent supportive housing, and each tenant is only required to pay 30% of their income. On-site programs are also offered to enrich the lives of residents, and ongoing case management support helps tenants sustain their housing and achieve long-term self-sufficiency.

 

Sierra Guest Home was acquired in 2022. The goal at the time was to preserve existing housing for low-income seniors and to offer interim housing opportunities for future unhoused seniors while they work towards securing permanent housing placement. Today, the Sierra Guest Home serves as both interim and permanent housing, depending on the needs of its tenants, and also provides a safe place for those transitioning out of the hospital through a program called Recuperative Care. The Sierra Guest Home provides 24/7 staffing to support its residents within a caring and stable environment. This environment, like all Hospitality House programs, includes comprehensive case management services, as well as three meals each day, prepared at Utah’s Place and delivered daily.

The Sierra Guest Home, when acquired, offered 16 rooms. Through the generosity of local donors and a grant from The Community Expansion Program, the Sierra Guest Home is finalizing its expansion to add 10 additional units for low-income and disabled seniors. These units will increase capacity and provide additional housing for Nevada County residents aged 55 and older.

While creating plans for the expansion mentioned above, Hospitality House learned of a vacant lot near the Sierra Guest Home, presenting another opportunity to build additional housing. Hospitality House discovered that the listing agent was a long-time donor and volunteer who was happy to facilitate a negotiation with the property owner. As it turned out, the seller was also a supporter and loved the idea of being part of a solution for low-income households. One very generous donor stepped in and provided the funding to acquire the property, which helped the project pencil for later development. Through the generosity and collaborative spirit of several community leaders, Hospitality House was able to continue driving its mission – this time by developing 236 Glenwood Road.

The Glenwood Project is currently under development, thanks to private donors and a large grant from the County of Nevada. As a result, Hospitality House will have two additional homes, which together offer nine bedrooms. The primary residence features five bedrooms and three bathrooms, while the secondary accessory dwelling comprises four bedrooms and two bathrooms. Both homes are single-story, and great care has been taken to ensure they are architecturally appealing and fitting to the existing neighborhood.

 

Hospitality House is proud to offer shelter and housing to over 100 individuals. While the journey to end homelessness is an intricate process, the accomplishment of these projects will provide homes for many individuals and families in the years to come. Contrary to what many people think, the impact of more affordable housing on the community is, more often than not, a positive one. It adds to community growth, health and wellness, and social engagement. And if the developments are done well, the newly constructed homes and/or facilities often increase the value of neighboring properties.

Hospitality House is grateful for the collaboration and support of its many partners, donors, employees, and volunteers who join in its mission. For more information about the projects and programs of Hospitality House or to make a donation to support efforts to end homelessness in Nevada County, please visit hhshelter.org/donate or call 530-615-0852.

Everyone at Hospitality House is thrilled to expand how we carry out the mission and vision we are so committed to, which is shared below.

Mission and Vision

Hospitality House is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit emergency shelter and housing provider, serving low-income and homeless residents of Nevada County. Hospitality House bridges the gap between homelessness and housing by offering shelter, housing resources, and a variety of wraparound services designed to help residents transition from homelessness to housing. Hospitality House envisions a community where accessible, permanent housing is available to all in Nevada County.

Our Mission

The mission of Hospitality House is to provide pathways to permanent housing by compassionately bringing homeless people in Nevada County into a circle of community caring that offers shelter, housing resources, sustenance, opportunity, dignity, and hope as we assist them in transitioning from homelessness to housing.

Our Vision

To empower homeless people and those at risk of homelessness with the tools needed to overcome the barriers that prevent them from securing or sustaining homes. We advocate for greater community support and optimize resources dedicated to those without homes. We respect diversity and serve all individuals by providing physical, emotional, and spiritual support.