Background

Better Together Background

Better Together is an overall strategy spearheaded by Nevada County to support innovative and meaningful collaboration with key stakeholders, while educating the public, and inviting them to be a part of the solution to the complex issue of homelessness impacting our community.

Nevada County Health and Human Services Agency is committed to a “Housing First” approach to homelessness. “Housing First” is an evidence-based policy approach to connect individuals and families experiencing homelessness to permanent housing, which has been proven to be highly effective for ending homelessness, particularly for people experiencing chronic homelessness with higher service needs. While participation in services or treatment are not a condition of permanent housing entry in the “Housing First” model, supportive services should be made available to maximize housing stability and outcomes.

The Nevada County Board of Supervisors continues to prioritize addressing homelessness, and has kept homelessness as board objective for 2023. According to the 2022 Point In Time (PIT) Count results, 527 individuals were experiencing homelessness. This count, using criteria determined by the Department of Housing and Urban Development, is a mere snapshot of the homeless situation in Nevada County. In July 2017, Nevada County hired Brendan Phillips to fill the newly created Housing Resource Manager position within the Health and Human Services Agency, tasked with coordinating all County housing related services and serving as a single point of contact to the many community based organizations that provide homeless services.