Sierra HOPE Answers the Call to Provide Housing
Services for Calaveras County Residents
Originally the area’s AIDS/HIV Testing & Support Resource, Sierra HOPE now also provides much needed homeless transitional housing services
Angels Camp, CA – June 23, 2020 – Sierra HOPE, a non-profit organization best known for delivering HIV/AIDS education and supportive services to Sierra Foothills communities in Tuolumne, Amador and Calaveras counties (or “tri-county area”), is expanding its mission taking on a broader role that includes addressing homelessness and housing insecurity in Calaveras County.
Sierra HOPE was inspired to take on this new responsibility because its headquarters are in Angels Camp and because of its effective and long-standing collaborative relationship with the Amador Tuolumne Community Action Agency (ATCAA), which provides similar housing programs in Amador and Tuolumne Counties. A new collaboration with Calaveras County and the Calaveras-Mariposa Community Action Agency is providing additional resources to help expand and grow housing programs in these specific areas.
“Sierra HOPE has been gradually stepping in to providing housing services since 2012, and with this new support from the County of Calaveras, Sierra HOPE will be able to expand on these needed services in the County,” said Jerry Cadotte, Executive Director, Sierra HOPE. “ATCAA does excellent work in Amador and Tuolumne Counties and has provided valuable guidance as Sierra Hope stepped up to address housing needs in Calaveras.”
There are several reasons that people may become homeless, and many of the people served by Sierra HOPE are not generally known or visible in the community. Sudden reduction in income can result from job loss, family breakups; or a death in the family. Other frequent causes of homelessness are unexpected and unaffordable raise in rent, or a rental being sold. The COVID-19 pandemic has brought new economic hardships that threaten the housing security of members of our community.
Current projects Sierra HOPE is providing as a result of this new charter include:
Rapid Rehousing – For those who are experiencing homelessness or are at imminent risk of losing their housing, Rapid Rehousing attempts to help people get into permanent housing as quickly as possible. Sierra HOPE’s Rapid Rehousing project can provide deposits and rental assistance, combined with case management support to help clients stabilize.
Homeless prevention: Similar to the Rapid Rehousing program but not as comprehensive is Sierra HOPE’s homeless prevention program that provides short-term assistance for those at imminent risk of losing their housing. Funding for homeless prevention comes from both State and private grant sources.
Permanent Supportive Housing Program – Sierra HOPE has 4 leased apartments in the Supportive Housing Program. These units are reserved for people who are literally homeless and have a diagnosed disability that makes it difficult for them to maintain stable housing. In addition to housing, Sierra HOPE provides on-going case management to help program participants access mainstream services to and maintain stable housing.
New Transitional House: Sierra HOPE recently purchased a 5-bedroom home in Angels Camp that will serve as its first property intended to serve as a bridge to permanent housing. One of the rooms will be dedicated to an onsite supervisor. A generous $100K state grant provided through Calaveras County is being utilized to add a new ADA accessible bedroom and bath, install an additional bathroom, and make other needed repairs prior to occupancy. Additional support has come from private sources. Pinnell Carpet and Flooring has made generous donations of labor and materials towards the remodel, including construction of the ADA bathroom, and the Angels Camp Union Congregational Church has furnished and decorated two of the bedrooms. Sierra Hope welcomes churches and organizations to “Adopt a Room” to help finish the home.
With housing as the new anchor, Sierra HOPE Case Managers design programs that deliver a full range of supportive services with the goal of achieving self-sufficiency and a foundation for ongoing housing and food security. “The need always outweighs the resources available, and we are not able to help everybody who needs it,” said Cadotte. “But, the community and sponsors always turns out strong for our annual Big Trees Walk for HOPE, launching soon, and that contributes greatly to our work.” To learn more about Sierra HOPE’s range of services, visit our website or call (209)736-6792.
About Sierra Hope
Sierra HOPE, founded 1989 as the Sierra AIDS Council provides a wide range of housing and supportive services to the residents of Calaveras, Tuolumne and Amador counties. Headquartered in Angels Camp, Sierra HOPE’s mission is to promote individual dignity and support the health and well- being for at risk members of our community through compassionate services. To learn more about Sierra HOPE visit www.sierrahope.org.
Sierra HOPE was inspired to take on this new responsibility because its headquarters are in Angels Camp and because of its effective and long-standing collaborative relationship with the Amador Tuolumne Community Action Agency (ATCAA), which provides similar housing programs in Amador and Tuolumne Counties. A new collaboration with Calaveras County and the Calaveras-Mariposa Community Action Agency is providing additional resources to help expand and grow housing programs in these specific areas.
“Sierra HOPE has been gradually stepping in to providing housing services since 2012, and with this new support from the County of Calaveras, Sierra HOPE will be able to expand on these needed services in the County,” said Jerry Cadotte, Executive Director, Sierra HOPE. “ATCAA does excellent work in Amador and Tuolumne Counties and has provided valuable guidance as Sierra Hope stepped up to address housing needs in Calaveras.”
There are several reasons that people may become homeless, and many of the people served by Sierra HOPE are not generally known or visible in the community. Sudden reduction in income can result from job loss, family breakups; or a death in the family. Other frequent causes of homelessness are unexpected and unaffordable raise in rent, or a rental being sold. The COVID-19 pandemic has brought new economic hardships that threaten the housing security of members of our community.
Current projects Sierra HOPE is providing as a result of this new charter include:
Rapid Rehousing – For those who are experiencing homelessness or are at imminent risk of losing their housing, Rapid Rehousing attempts to help people get into permanent housing as quickly as possible. Sierra HOPE’s Rapid Rehousing project can provide deposits and rental assistance, combined with case management support to help clients stabilize.
Homeless prevention: Similar to the Rapid Rehousing program but not as comprehensive is Sierra HOPE’s homeless prevention program that provides short-term assistance for those at imminent risk of losing their housing. Funding for homeless prevention comes from both State and private grant sources.
Permanent Supportive Housing Program – Sierra HOPE has 4 leased apartments in the Supportive Housing Program. These units are reserved for people who are literally homeless and have a diagnosed disability that makes it difficult for them to maintain stable housing. In addition to housing, Sierra HOPE provides on-going case management to help program participants access mainstream services to and maintain stable housing.
New Transitional House: Sierra HOPE recently purchased a 5-bedroom home in Angels Camp that will serve as its first property intended to serve as a bridge to permanent housing. One of the rooms will be dedicated to an onsite supervisor. A generous $100K state grant provided through Calaveras County is being utilized to add a new ADA accessible bedroom and bath, install an additional bathroom, and make other needed repairs prior to occupancy. Additional support has come from private sources. Pinnell Carpet and Flooring has made generous donations of labor and materials towards the remodel, including construction of the ADA bathroom, and the Angels Camp Union Congregational Church has furnished and decorated two of the bedrooms. Sierra Hope welcomes churches and organizations to “Adopt a Room” to help finish the home.
With housing as the new anchor, Sierra HOPE Case Managers design programs that deliver a full range of supportive services with the goal of achieving self-sufficiency and a foundation for ongoing housing and food security. “The need always outweighs the resources available, and we are not able to help everybody who needs it,” said Cadotte. “But, the community and sponsors always turns out strong for our annual Big Trees Walk for HOPE, launching soon, and that contributes greatly to our work.” To learn more about Sierra HOPE’s range of services, visit our website or call (209)736-6792.
About Sierra Hope
Sierra HOPE, founded 1989 as the Sierra AIDS Council provides a wide range of housing and supportive services to the residents of Calaveras, Tuolumne and Amador counties. Headquartered in Angels Camp, Sierra HOPE’s mission is to promote individual dignity and support the health and well- being for at risk members of our community through compassionate services. To learn more about Sierra HOPE visit www.sierrahope.org.