The Ranch House – Nevada County

Creating a Safe and Supportive Home for Individuals with Serious Mental Illness.

Overview

Project Name: The Ranch House

Location: Nevada County

Sponsors: AMI Housing and Nevada County Behavioral Health

Award Type: CCE Expansion Funds

Housing Type: Permanent Supportive Housing

An overhead photo of The Ranch House shows a v-shaped building with a parking area, solar panels in a field beside it, and grass and trees behind it.

The Ranch House Video

To view the video in full-screen, please view the video on YouTube by clicking on the video title.

A Model for Stable Community-Based Housing with Care

Through the Community Care Expansion (CCE) Program, a long-awaited vision in Nevada County was made into a reality: a six-unit supportive housing facility providing care and stability for individuals experiencing chronic homelessness and severe, persistent mental illness. An interior photo of a room at The Ranch House in Nevada County, with a kitchen, full sized refrigerator, wood floors, a television, light coming in the window, and a bicycle parked inside.

The Ranch House, located near Nevada City, is now fully occupied, offering residents a home in their own community that is close to the services and support networks that will help them thrive. The facility offers a safe, stable, and supportive environment where residents receive individualized care and services designed to promote long-term wellness and independence. Specifically, residents receive access to Full Service Partnership (FSP) services and peer services provided by Turning Point Community Programs (TPCP) and AMI Housing, respectively.

By locating the facility close to the county’s administrative offices, Nevada County ensures residents can easily access case management, behavioral health, and community resources. The site also provides community space and a fully equipped kitchen, along with an outdoor garden space that is structured to offer privacy.

The project exemplifies how CCE funding empowers local governments and nonprofit partners to expand care capacity and address homelessness through community-based housing models that match the lower density, architectural styles, and neighborhood characteristics of rural communities.

A Collaboration Years in the Making

The Ranch House was initially funded through the state’s No Place Like Home (NPLH) program, but when the COVID-19 pandemic delayed construction and created unforeseen cost increases, the project faced an uncertain future.

With an infusion of $2.89 million in CCE funding, Nevada County Behavioral Health and its contracted nonprofit partner, AMI Housing, were able to complete construction and ensure the facility was able to open. CCE funds filled a critical budget gap, ensuring that the project could move forward and meet the needs of some of the county’s most vulnerable residents.

Building Trust and Community Support

Recognizing the importance of local engagement, Nevada County Behavioral Health and AMI Housing made community outreach a core part of the project’s development. The county hosted open houses, established direct phone line access for feedback, and worked directly with nearby businesses and residents to address concerns.

In one example of this collaboration, a neighboring restaurant requested a new fence to ensure privacy and visual consistency, an improvement that was incorporated into the project design. These efforts helped build trust and ensure the Ranch House fit seamlessly into its neighborhood.