Putting the call out for EDC homeless shelter

El Dorado County Board of Supervisors,

We are calling on you to allow churches of El Dorado County to immediately provide temporary, rotating winter sheltering through at least April 2010. As you are aware, this is the second winter without any shelter and this is intended to be a temporary solution during the coldest months of the year while United Outreach develops the long term shelter at Perks Court.

FAITH has developed a very well organized and structured process based, in part, on other successful nomadic homeless shelter concepts and on the lessons learned from Grace Place, the former El Dorado County shelter.

Furthermore, it would be implemented completely by volunteers with absolutely no cost to El Dorado County taxpayers and with absolutely no need for any government services.

Many of us have been trying to work within the system for the last few months, with some very well meaning, responsible, county staff, performing their due diligence, to get this accomplished. However, we continue to be hindered by zoning laws, and other impediments, and have not yet been successful.

While we understand the need for these laws to protect the health, welfare, and safety of all El Dorado County citizens, how could there possibly be any more threat to the health, welfare and safety of our citizens than freezing to death on a park bench, as Ms. Susan Mobley did in March of 2008, or as a another man did in his tent a few months ago, or getting hit and killed crossing the street in October of 2009?

Further, we have been recently informed that there are now at least three precedential court cases that are directly on point that allow churches to be exempt from local zoning ordinances with respect to sheltering homeless citizens.

We have also been informed that the city of Placerville has determined that at least two churches may proceed with this plan.

It is already January, time is of the essence, and we are very simply asking that you decide to immediately give us temporary authorization to proceed, while continuing to meet and develop a mutually acceptable solution.

Respectfully submitted,

Michael Parr, coordinator of Feeding And Inspiring The Homeless (F.A.I.T.H.)