Residents express fear for safety, security

Sutter County Citizens Committee on Homelessness listens to people’s concerns

A proposed Sutter County homeless shelter has some residents upset and concerned for their safety and security.

Nearly 40 people, including committee members, officials and community members, discussed issues Monday night concerning the shelter being placed at 1945 Live Oak Blvd.

The Sutter County Citizens Committee on Homelessness listened to community members concerning the location of what would serve as a temporary shelter for the homeless.

Community members speaking at the hearing repeated concerns for safety for themselves, their children, homes, businesses and vehicles.

One resident said she was really scared for her family and another said squatters had already burned down the same house twice in her neighborhood.

Still others were concerned with what “temporary” meant. The grant the Sutter County Board of Supervisors voted to apply for has a three-year term; after that funding is depleted, residents asked, would the shelter move or would it stay longer at the same location.

Also, a concern was what the county would do about homeless people who refuse help or aren’t eligible for the program.

Newly-elected Sutter County Sheriff Brandon Barnes and Yuba City Police Lt. Michael Green said the county and city are working together, but at the moment not much could be done due in part to an injunction placed on the county stopping the enforcement of a no camping ordinance.

Ymelda Mendozaflores, the homeless project manager for the county, said Hands of Hope would be used to evaluate needs, assess families, and singles and work to provide care to those in need.

Mendoza-flores said more than 70 people have been permanently housed through area programs like 14Forward, Salvation Army, Bridges to Housing and the Twin Cities Mission.

Scott Thurmond, a consultant for the committee, said homeless people who would use the site have to be assessed and placed in the shelters, so concerns of the location are understandable.

“We want a site that’s not going to have a negative impact on the community,” Thurmond said.

Chief administrative officer for Habitat for Humanity Yuba/sutter Morgane Brown said vulnerability and a sense of security is definitely a concern for the community, but they plan to model and run the shelter in the same “tight-ship” manner in which other shelters in the community do.

The next meeting was not announced.