Sierra Roots

SIERRA ROOTS IS COMMITTED TO PROVIDING A SECURE AND SAFE PLACE FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE CHRONICALLY HOMELESS. WE EMPLOY A RELATIONSHIP-BASED APPROACH THAT IDENTIFIES INDIVIDUAL NEEDS AND PRESERVES THE DIGNITY OF EACH PERSON.

PROVIDE SHELTER TO OUR HOMELESS IN WESTERN NEVADA COUNTY: IN 2020, THE COUNTY RECEIVED CARES FUNDING WHICH WAS USED IN A MOTEL PROGRAM THAT PROVIDED $34,449.24 WORTH OF HOTEL ROOMS. WE ALSO USED RECEIVED MONEY FROM CARES EFSP PHASE 37 ($2060.22) AND PHASE 38 ($539) TO BOOST OUR ITS EMERGENCY MOTEL ROOM PROGRAM FOR TIMELY RESPONSES TO BURGEONING MOTEL REQUESTS DUE TO COVID. WE ALSO USED IT TO PROVIDE ADDITIONAL NEEDED FUNDING FOR HOTEL ROOMS TO SUPPLEMENT OTHER FUNDING RECEIVED (ESG-CV-2) FOR OUR CAMP IMMERSION PROGRAM. WE RECEIVED MANY REFERRALS FROM LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS, NEVADA COUNTY HOME TEAM, SIERRA NEVADA MEMORIAL HOSPITAL, ETC. THE NEED FOR THE PROGRAM OUTWEIGHED THE RESOURCES, SO WE PRIORITIZED FOR SPECIFIC VULNERABILITY CATEGORIES: PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES, THE ELDERLY, AND INDIVIDUALS WITH DANGEROUS HEALTH RISKS, INJURY, OR PHYSICAL PAIN, ESPECIALLY IF THEIR CONDITION MAY BE WORSENED BY BEING OUT-OF-DOORS. WE CONSIDER THIS TO BE AN EMERGENCY RESPONSE AND LIFE-SAVING PROGRAM THAT IS AN ESSENTIAL PART OF THE COUNTY'S CONTINUUM OF CARE.

THIS YEAR, WE RECEIVED MONEY FROM HUD (ESG-CV-2), WHICH ALLOWED US TO FUND CAMP IMMERSION. THIS IS AN INITIATIVE THAT TAKES SIX CHRONICALLY HOMELESS INDIVIDUALS AT A TIME, HOUSE THEM IN A MOTEL, AND TEACH THEM TO BECOME HOUSING-READY. WE EMPLOY A CASEWORKER 40 HOURS A WEEK TO WORK WITH THEM AND IDEALLY, ON GRADUATION AFTER 35 - 40 DAYS, THEY WILL BE ABLE TO MOVE INTO THEIR OWN LIVING QUARTERS.

MANAGE COLD WEATHER SHELTER OPERATIONS FOR NEVADA COUNTY IN NEVADA CITY.THE SIERRA ROOTS WEATHER SHELTER IS A PROGRAM IN PARTNERSHIP WITH NEVADA COUNTY. THE WEATHER SHELTER USES A 30-BED PUBLIC FACILITY IN NEVADA CITY AS A TEMPORARY SHELTER VENUE DURING EXTREME WEATHER EVENTS.

PROVIDE FOOD, CLOTHING AND SUPPLIES TO THE HOMELESS OF WESTERN NEVADA COUNTY: WHILE THE COVID PANDEMIC CREATED NEW CHALLENGES, WE WERE ABLE TO PROVIDE LIFE=SUSTAINING WEEKLY MEALS IN A COVID-SAFE ENVIRONMENT FOR HOMELESS AND VOLUNTEER PARTICIPANS. THE MEALS ALSO PROVIDED A PLACE TO GIVE AWAY CLOTHES, SHOES AND ESSENTIAL ITEMS TO PARTICIPANTS. THIS PROGRAM ALLOWS US TO CULTIVATE RELATIONSHIPS WITH HOMELESS PARTICIPANTS IN ORDER TO ENGAGE THEM IN OUR ADVOCACY PROGRAMS, AND CONNECT THEM TO NEEDED PUBLIC SERVICES. MOST PARTICIPANTS IN THIS PROGRAM ARE CHRONICALLY HOMELESS, OFTEN LIVING IN THE WOODS, IN TENTS, OR UNDER THE BRIDGES.