Residents, service providers clash over Nevada County'led Hope Ridge House plan for Armstrong Tract

Dozens of Truckee residents urged clearer outreach and answers about a Nevada County plan to operate a small permanent supportive housing property in the Armstrong Tract, while service providers and volunteers defended the project as a needed local resource.

The public comment period at the Jan. 28 Truckee Town Council meeting was dominated by questions and appeals about the Hope Ridge House, a leased single-family property the county intends to convert to long-term supportive housing staffed by case managers and a house manager.

"It is not a homeless shelter. It is a long term house where people will live," said Phoebe Bell, identified in public comment as the Behavioral Health Director for Nevada County. "Permanent supportive housing is an evidence-based practice ... Truckee needs a project like this. Right now, we have 0 permanent supportive housing beds in Truckee."

Supporters from local nonprofit and volunteer groups said the project would provide leases, case management and on-site supervision, and would house people with ties to Truckee. "We will be available to neighbors with concerns or questions, and we'll respond in a timely manner to any phone calls or emails," volunteer Ruth Cross said.

Opponents and concerned neighbors repeatedly criticized the county for limited notice and outreach. "My concerns include the lack of outreach and engagement," said Mike Lavoc, a homeowner in Truckee who said he learned of the project from a community flyer. Several speakers said county notices were unclear about whether the site would be interim, transitional or permanent supportive housing.

Lisonbee Bermont, who identified herself as a public defender and a long-time Armstrong resident, said she had found language on a state funding notice — Homekey, the state program that can fund housing acquisitions — that she said requires units funded by that program be reserved for people with serious mental illness or substance use disorder. "The notice of funding from Homekey ... requires that all units must be reserved for individuals with serious mental illness or a substance use disorder that has become homeless," Bermont said.

Some residents expressed safety concerns tied to nearby schools and day-care facilities. Sarah Kellgauer, who said she is opening a daycare near the parcel, asked the county and town to make operational rules clear "so that I can secure my facility so that I can ensure our community that when they drop off their most precious things to me, that I can keep them as safe as possible." Other speakers urged compassion and community-based solutions for people who are unhoused.

Town officials emphasized that the project is a county program and encouraged residents to attend an information session the county scheduled for 5:30 p.m. Feb. 6 in the Town Chambers. "This is a county project, so we don't actually have approval authority over this," the town manager told the audience during the meeting. Council members and staff also acknowledged shortcomings in early outreach and urged residents to attend the county meeting.

The council did not take regulatory action at the meeting; it instead directed residents to the county forum and said it would relay community concerns to county staff. Several speakers asked the town to be more involved in future planning and to press the county for clearer operational commitments, including staffing levels and local behavioral-health capacity.

Why it matters: Truckee has been identified locally as lacking permanent supportive housing while other parts of the county have multiple sites. Residents said they want assurances about outreach, safety mitigations and the types of supports to be available on site, while providers said the small project is a step toward filling an identified need.

What happens next: Nevada County will hold a public forum on Feb. 6 in Truckee to explain operations and answer questions; the town said it will communicate concerns raised by residents to the county.