Collaborative effort underway to address homelessness and fire risk in Grass Valley, community cleanup event July 16
Nevada County Behavioral Health, City of Grass Valley, Grass Valley Police Department, and Hospitality House are assisting up to 24 unhoused residents in securing shelter and housing over the next month. The agencies are decommissioning a homeless camp near Highway 49 and Dorsey Drive — an area selected due to the density of people camping at the site and fire risk.
This initiative is made possible through one-time state funding, including grants from the Behavioral Health Bridge Housing Program and the Encampment Resolution Fund, which the County successfully applied for to address urgent housing and public safety needs. Additional support is being provided through contributions from the landowner and funding from the City of Grass Valley’s Measure B fire mitigation program.
“Addressing the complex issue of homelessness requires true collaboration,” said Grass Valley Police Chief Alex Gammelgard. “By working closely with our community partners, we’re not only supporting some of our most vulnerable unhoused residents but also improving overall public safety for the entire Grass Valley community. This is the kind of collaboration that produces meaningful, lasting results.”
While not everyone from the encampment will receive permanent housing, every effort is being made to provide immediate shelter, support services, and long-term resources for as many individuals as possible.
Please note – To further these efforts, a community cleanup event is scheduled for July 16. All listed partners will participate to remove trash accumulation from the unhoused campsites, helping to reduce fire danger, minimize environmental impact, and address ongoing public safety risks associated with the encampments. Those who would like to participate in the cleanup effort may contact Sgt. Clint Lovelady at clovelady@gvpd.net.
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