Nevada County presents plan for six-bed supportive housing near Armstrong Tract; residents press for more outreach and safeguards

Nevada County officials on Monday described a proposal to establish a six‑bed permanent supportive housing home in Truckee’s Armstrong Tract and said they are seeking state Proposition 1/Homekey grant funding to acquire and operate the property.

The proposal, described during a public information forum convened by county and town officials, would place the home under the management of AMI Housing and provide case management and behavioral health services to residents. “The house will be managed by an organization called AMI Housing,” said Ryan Gruver, Nevada County’s health and human services director. “People will pay rent at this house. They pay 30% of their income.”

County leaders said the plan aims to fill an identified gap in Truckee: permanent supportive housing beds for people with behavioral‑health or substance‑use needs. “We didn't need a plan to tell us that we need permanent supportive housing beds in Truckee,” Gruver said, noting there are currently “0 in Truckee” compared with hundreds of beds elsewhere in Nevada County.

Why it matters: County supervisors and local health officials framed the proposal as a time‑sensitive opportunity to capture state one‑time capital funds. Officials said Proposition 1 funding opened Jan. 31 on a first‑come, first‑served basis and that the grant rules favor sites with immediate site control and properties that can be used without major land‑use changes. “You need site control and a willing seller,” Gruver said. “You need relatively affordable sites. There are caps on the per door cost.”

What the county would provide: Phoebe Bell, Nevada County behavioral health director, said the home would be permanent supportive housing — intended to combine subsidized housing with on‑site or linked supportive services. Bell described a daytime case‑management team available during business hours and an overnight house manager whose role is to enforce house rules and keep the household functioning. “The overnight person…is not a clinical person. It’s a responsible adult whose job is to make sure the basic rules are followed,” Bell said.

Eligibility and rules: County staff said residents would come from Truckee and have local connections; they must be homeless or at risk of homelessness and have mental‑health or substance‑use needs. The county also said certain people would be excluded from the property — for example, people with a history of significant violence or arson. Bell said the program cannot impose sobriety or mandatory drug‑testing as a condition of tenancy; instead the project uses behavior and safety rules. “What we can do is run the house with very strict behavior expectations,” Bell said. “Someone is absolutely allowed to come home and have a beer…somebody is not allowed to come home and drink 20 beers and get really angry and yell really loudly at people.”

Resident concerns: More than two dozen residents spoke during the forum. Common concerns included the timing and scope of county outreach, the site selection process, impacts on children and nearby preschools, property values, and what would happen if the county failed to secure grant funding. “Is it a potential project, or are you moving people in?” asked Mary Broglio, citing reports that a lease option had been signed. Supervisor Hardy Bullock said the county obtained site control (an option/lease) to qualify for grant submission and that staff paused any move‑in plans while the community discussion continued. “We have delayed moving people in because of the community conversation,” Bullock said.

Process and timeline: County staff described a short window to apply for the current round of capital funding. Gruver said the state’s funding window is expected to be open two to three months and that the county needs site control to apply. Officials also said the Homekey guidance for this round includes some flexibility to swap sites if community feedback requires it, and that any change would involve additional community engagement. The county said it would post and update a public FAQ and accept emailed questions.

Accountability and outcomes: Several residents asked what metrics would trigger review or closure of the program if it failed. Officials said eviction for serious rule violations is possible under tenancy law and that AMI Housing has experience as a landlord and operator. Bell and Gruver emphasized ongoing monitoring and promised neighborhood communication, including phone numbers and periodic meetings. “If there are problems…we will have a lot of people you can contact,” Gruver said.

Funding and sustainability: County staff explained that the current grant would cover acquisition (capital) and that ongoing operations require other funding sources such as county behavioral‑health funds, Medicaid (Medi‑Cal) linkages, and partner contributions. Gruver and Bell said owning a property reduces long‑term operational risk compared with leasing, but they said sustainable operations still require local funding commitments.

What remains unresolved: The forum did not result in a final decision. Officials said the Board of Supervisors previously authorized staff to pursue grant applications for Truckee (staffing and board actions were discussed during the meeting but precise vote tallies and motion text were not provided at the forum). Residents continued to press for more time, fuller disclosure of the lease/option terms, written documentation about property acquisition, and clear neighborhood safeguards.

Ending: County leaders said they heard the community’s concerns and pledged continued outreach. Supervisor Hardy Bullock closed by saying, “We have heard you. We take responsibility for the lack of information…My card is on the back. You can call me or email me anytime.”