It’s been said that 80% of life is just showing up.

That’s good. We want people to show up at the public hearings on Nevada County’s proposed tiny homes on wheels (THOW) ordinance. We want to impress upon the county that we the people want the ordinance amended to include all homes on wheels (trailers, RVs and mobile homes).

It’s also been said, the other 20% is more important than the 80%. For example, 80% of your time might be involved in showing up for work or school or a public hearing, but it’s the 20% where you say or do what you showed up for that is what’s most important.

Long time coming

In January 2019, I first proposed to the Board of Supervisors that people should be allowed to live in trailers and RVs. It’s been a long haul, and to date, all we’ve got in terms of progress is a proposed ordinance to allow residential-looking tiny homes on wheels but not trailers and RVs.

This is unacceptable.

We are disappointed that county staff did not propose an ordinance more in line with what the supervisors clearly wanted at the annual goals-setting workshop last January. Instead of addressing the desperate need for alternative housing  for homeless and very-low-income people, staff simply copied Placer County’s THOW ordinance.

RVs and trailers are functionally the same as tiny homes on wheels, and they’re far more prevalent, affordable and available. RVs and trailers are the first resort for homeless people coming out of homelessness and the last resort of people at risk of becoming homeless.

These clearly viable alternative dwelling units must be classified as legal homes because we have a housing crisis. All homes on wheels (AHOW), while maybe not the ideal solution, are the best solution for here and now.

Take action

To see Nevada County’s  proposed THOW ordinance, go to www.nevadacountyca.gov  and search for “tiny homes on wheels ordinance.”

To see and support the Sierra Roots proposal to amend the ordinance to include AHOW, go to www.noplacetogoproject.com. Please sign our petition via the link on our home page. For more background information, see recent Editorials on the Resources tab of the website.

Because of the high level of public interest, the county has extended the original Sept. 5 deadline for written public comment. Therefore, there is still time to send your constructive thoughts to Nevada County Principal Planner Tyler.Barrington@nevadacountyca.gov.

In addition to signing the petition and writing Mr. Barrington, you can most effectively use your 20% by showing up and speaking at one or more of the upcoming public hearings. Even if you don’t want to speak, please show up.

To speak directly to Barrington in person, please attend one of these hearings:

  • Wednesday, Oct. 16, 6 p.m., Higgins Lions Club, 22490 E. Hacienda Dr.
  • Thursday, Oct. 17, 6 p.m., Penn Valley Fire Station, 10513 Spenceville Rd.

Where we really need all hands on deck is at the Planning Commission meeting Oct. 24 at the Rood Center. And the whole deal goes down at the Board of Supervisors, tentatively scheduled for  Nov. 26.

For the last two years, we have worked hard to establish a civil, working rapport with county staff and supervisors. We expect our supporters to be respectful and to offer solutions, not complaints at these hearings. It’s okay to be passionate, but it’s not okay yell, threaten or offer insults. That’s not our style.

If you have a Sierra Roots/No Place To Go Project T-shirt, please wear it to the public meetings to show county officials that we are organized and in solidarity with our at-risk and homeless community.

If you don’t yet have a shirt and would like one, please contact me. We have a few shirts and shopping bags left, and it’s first-come-first-served while supplies last. The price is right: Free.

change for good

In the last 18 months, Sierra Roots has sought to take a larger, more proactive role in the community. While we have not abandoned our core mission of feeding and clothing our at-risk and homeless neighbors, under the Sierra Roots/No Place To Go Project, we have ventured into social justice advocacy and alternative housing.

During the term of a grant from the Upstate California Creative Corps and the Nevada County Arts Council, we were not allowed to solicit or accept donations for the No Place To Go Project. That grant has ended, and we are now happy and grateful to accept donations at https://www.noplacetogoproject.com/take-action. This will enable us to continue to advocate for safe camps and affordable housing for our homeless and at-risk community.

If you prefer to support Sierra Roots’ effort to feed and clothe our homeless friends, please go to https://sierra-roots.org/donate/.

Sierra Roots is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization, and all donations are tax deductible

Finally, if you really want to jump into the deep end, we are seeking influential citizens to join our board of directors. To apply, please contact our board president and acting executive director Susan Rice at susan.rice273@gmail.com., Be the change you want to see.

Tom Durkin is the creative director of the Sierra Roots/No Place to Go Project, which is funded by private donations. Durkin may be contacted at tomdurkin@sierra-roots.org, www.noplacetogoproject.com or 530-559-3199.