About United
Outreach of El Dorado County
 United
Outreach of El Dorado County is a 501(c)(3) non-profit
organization under the leadership of its board of directors,
headed by the board president. All members of the board are
volunteers who are dedicated to providing a safe, secure shelter
where homeless people can spend the night.
The shelter is staffed both by volunteers and by professionals
trained in dealing with the homeless population. We require that
our clients agree to maintain a peaceful environment while they
are with us, and they are typically in their beds by 10:00 PM.
In the evening, our clients are not allowed to leave the shelter
once they check in; and they are all bused to downtown
Placerville when they leave in the morning. We value our
neighbors and appreciate their presence in the community; and we
intend to do whatever is necessary to maintain cordial
relationships with the people in our neighborhood.
Surveys done by the County, and records kept by UO since 2006,
reveal that the homeless population of El Dorado County is
growing by leaps and bounds. When we began in 2005, around six
clients would join us for one or two evenings a week. The winter
of 2007-2008 ended with a maximum of 45 clients in each of the
five evenings each week we were open. During the six months of
'07-'08 operation, United Outreach saw around 3500 check-ins
come into their shelter. However, there are many more homeless
in the County than choose to check-in. As the winters get
colder, this situation is likely to change.
The County counted the homeless in the Spring of 2008 and found
that in El Dorado County alone, an estimated 344 people
experience homelessness sometime during the year. On any given
night, an average of 231 people are homeless or without stable
housing. Our records indicate that nearly one-third of these are
women and one-tenth are children. Recently, local school
districts have noted a significant increase in homeless children
attending schools in El Dorado County.
Homelessness affects our entire community. Businesses, schools,
churches, and individuals all feel the results of a population
without jobs, training or homes to live in. It is our intention
to do something about this situation, and hope that you will
join us in the effort. |
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