The El Dorado County Board of Supervisors rejected a $1.5 million grant Tuesday to create a shelter for its homeless residents.The county does not have a homeless shelter.
Experts estimate that the homeless population is about 200 and 300 adults and another 660 school-aged children.
The county received the $1.5 million grant in December. However, after staff learned more about the conditions of the grant, they recommended the board reconsider accepting it.
El Dorado County would have partnered with United Outreach, a nonprofit, to create and operate the shelter.
Under terms of the grant, if United Outreach became unable to operate the shelter at any time within seven years, El Dorado County would be responsible for keeping the shelter operational. Otherwise, the county would be required to reimburse California for all funds received, up to the full $1.5 million.
El Dorado County staff felt that the proposal was too risky, considering the state of the economy and county's budget.
In addition, United Outreach said it could not guarantee that it would be able to continue to fund and operate the shelter because of economic strains ...
