El Dorado County presents year-two update on navigation center; staff report 62 exits to permanent housing

Timlin James, assistant director of human services for the El Dorado County Health and Human Services Agency, presented an annual update to the Placerville City Council on June 24 on the county-operated Navigation Center, which opened on Feb. 7, 2023. The report covered operations during the second year (Feb. 8, 2024–Feb. 7, 2025) and summarized cumulative data since opening.

James said the center was designed to reduce camping enforcement and fire risk while providing emergency shelter for people experiencing homelessness. "When someone comes to the Navigation Center, they are brought into shower, given a clean set of clothing, and meet with a case manager to develop an individual service plan," James said, describing intake and the center's low-barrier, case-management approach.

The center is operated day-to-day by Volunteers of America (VOA), with county behavioral-health staff, SUD treatment referrals and periodic on-site clinical resources, James said. There are two referral pathways: law enforcement referrals (54 beds dedicated for encampment abatements) and coordinated-entry referrals through the county Continuum of Care (six beds). Case managers track client progress through an individual service plan; nonengagement for three weeks can trigger a warning and eventual exit.

Why it matters: The update gives Placerville officials detail on how a county-run emergency shelter is being used, how public-safety partners interact with it, how public funds are spent and which operational practices affect who is placed back into the city.

Key data and operations details

- Referrals and origin: From Feb. 2024 to Feb. 2025 the Navigation Center received 224 referrals (183 unduplicated). Of referrals in that period, 188 were listed as coming from law enforcement with the breakdown given as: El Dorado County Sheriff’s Office 96, Placerville Police 57, probation 26, parole 5 and South Lake Tahoe Police 4; coordinated-entry (COC) referrals numbered 36. (Timlin James.)

- Bed use and occupancy: The center maintained an average occupancy rate of about 93%, with roughly 56 beds filled per night on average. James attributed a July–August dip to firefighting resource demands during the CrozeR fire and a flu outbreak that coincided with broken washers. (Timlin James.)

- Length of stay and housing exits: Average length of stay fell from 89 days in year one to 62 days in year two. Exits to permanent housing rose from 19 in year one to 43 in year two; cumulative exits to permanent housing were 62 as of the February 2025 reporting cut. James stated that represented about a 35% exit-to-housing success rate compared with a state program average of roughly 26%.

- Engagement and services tracked: Since October 2024 the county has tracked service-engagement encounters. Case managers recorded roughly 400 document-readiness conversations, about 200 income-maximization discussions and about 150 behavioral-health referral conversations (October 2024–Jan. 30, 2025). James also said 21 clients have been employed while in the program (cumulative since opening).

- Removals and rule enforcement: Of approximately 176 total exits cited, 57 were for behavioral violations (a 10% decline from the prior year), and 73 were for exceeding cumulative allowed nights out (the program has a nine p.m. curfew and allows five cumulative nights out during a stay, with exceptions approved by case managers). James said staff received de‑escalation training that likely contributed to the decline in behavior-related exits.

- Costs and funding: Operating funds come from state and federal grants (CDBG-CV, ESG-CV and multiple rounds of HAP grants), the Permanent Local Housing Allocation (PLHA) and county general-fund contributions. James reported VOA operations at roughly $120,000 per month; meal service from The Upper Room about $33,000 per month; and combined VOA, Upper Room and HHSA staff costs at about $188,000–$189,000 per month — about $3,145 per client per month or roughly $105 per day. James also noted about $250,000 in sheriff security costs and other site maintenance and camera costs. (Timlin James.)

Questions, community concerns and next steps

Placerville elected officials and residents raised concerns about the center's impact on public safety and transparency. Council members asked about participation requirements; James said engagement with case managers is required but participation in other optional services (AA/NA, classes) is not mandated. A council member asked how the point-in-time (PIT) homeless count was conducted in 2024; James said teams of roughly three to five people completed the count on the same day across county slopes, and law enforcement assisted with locating sites.

Several speakers pressed the county on information-sharing when individuals with required registration ("registered offenders") use the Navigation Center. James said the county does not proactively provide participant personal records to law enforcement because of confidentiality and funding rules, and it notifies law enforcement only when there is a safety incident or when staff call for assistance. "We can't say, 'We're exiting this person with this record,'" James said, explaining the agency's constraints. Brian Verkamp, El Dorado County District 3 supervisor, said the county and law enforcement are coordinating to pursue tools to address the chronic population that does not accept services.

James ended by offering to provide follow-up data and to continue collaboration with city staff, law enforcement and COC partners.

Ending: The county presented the Navigation Center's second-year metrics and operational practices and responded to council and resident questions on screening, data collection, participant notification and costs. County staff said they will continue monthly HMIS-based bed-availability updates to partners and invited further meetings with city officials to discuss outreach, screening and housing pathways.