Critical Service Gaps for Homeless Men in Colusa County: Too Many Denied Shelter
- Homeless Advocacy
- Jun 21
- 3 min read
Updated: Jul 12
COLUSA, CA (June 17, 2025) - In the quiet corners of Colusa County, an independent grassroots homeless community assessment is illuminating a harsh and often unseen reality: for many men facing homelessness, the path to help is tragically blocked, sometimes leading to profoundly dire consequences. Their stories, often whispered in the shadows, paint a stark picture of a system that is profoundly failing its most vulnerable.
Consider Vic, a man over 55, whose recent ordeal echoes the silent suffering of many. Battling severe, painful diabetic blisters that cried out for immediate medical attention at Colusa Medical Center, Vic desperately sought emergency homeless shelter. Yet, he was reportedly turned away by Colusa County Health and Human Services with a chilling, oft-repeated assertion: "no funding available." Alone, forced to endure agonizing pain and isolation—at times seeking meager refuge under a local bridge—Vic's suffering reached a tragic culmination. On June 12th, he was admitted to Enloe Hospital in Chico, where surgeons were forced to amputate five of his toes.
Vic's story, heart-wrenching as it is, is tragically not unique. The investigative advocacy team behind this assessment has meticulously documented his case as the tenth instance of unsheltered adults—predominantly men—being denied critical homeless assistance in Colusa County with that very same refrain in recent months: "no funding available." For men, the journey out of homelessness is often fraught with distinct denials and acute rejection.
Within Colusa County, the assessment has starkly revealed an alarming scarcity of shelter options and resources for adults impacted by homelessness. This critical deficit persists despite the allocation of large grants, funded programs, and initiatives designed to address the crisis. This fundamental lack leaves men, in particular, acutely exposed and vulnerable, with eight individuals reporting they encountered bias and denial of services at the hands of housing workers—a collective experience all claim has severely impacted their trust in the county’s homeless assistance primary provider.
“These disturbing claims and flagrant service delivery gaps are a direct call to action,” reports Susan Wagenaar, the advocate who spearheaded the investigative homeless assessment. “We encourage the Colusa County Board of Supervisors, Dos Rios Continuum of Care and Glenn County Community Action Department to meticulously examine why service delivery interruptions are on the rise in Colusa County for unsheltered adults, to ensure taxpayer dollars are being efficiently maximized to reduce homelessness and support outcomes consistent with Governor Newsom’s vision for California.”
“The glaring absence of dignified shelter and a realistic bridge to stable housing has created immense suffering and often insurmountable obstacles, trapping at-risk adults in a desperate cycle of homelessness, hopelessness, and poverty,” says Wagenaar. She adds, “How can one become a productive member of our community when everyday life is a battle for survival, mental well-being, unmet health needs, access to food, shelter, and hygiene?”
These painful truths from the margins would have remained unheard, swallowed by indifference. Yet, they emerge because of the immense courage of individuals like Vic, and other unsheltered residents—eight men and two women—who bravely shared their raw, unvarnished homeless realities with local advocates and peer support specialists that brought these disturbing truths to light, and gave voice to their suffering and ongoing battle to secure reliable homeless assistance services and housing in Colusa County.
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INTERVIEWED
Unsheltered White, Non-Hispanic County Residents
5 Males (1 over 55)
1 Female
Unsheltered Hispanic County Residents
3 Males (1 over 55)
1 Female
Other Data Collected
2 people reported having been unsheltered for 6 months. The remaining 8 have been homelessness in Colusa County ranging from 1 to 3 years.
1 person was hopeful he would qualify for Full Service Partnership (FSP) through Behavioral Health and receive help with housing.
Media/Community Contact:
Susan Wagenaar, 530-588-5697, SusanWdcMedia@gmail.com
COLUSA COUNTY RECOVERY'S MISSION
Keywords: Colusa County, Local News, Advocacy, Homelessness, Unsheltered Men. Service Delivery Gaps, Unmet Needs, Community Assessment, Homeless Grants, Human Interest Story
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