Safety Net Shredded: Vulnerable Homeless Woman Denied Aid in Colusa County

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COLUSA, CA – (June 27, 2025) – The gaps within Colusa County's safety net have become brutally apparent once again with the case of Almi, a local woman of Hispanic heritage who was left to fend for herself while grappling with homelessness, mental health challenges, and periodic alcohol use.

Living Rough in Colusa County

Almi was denied homeless housing assistance in Colusa County this month, marking her the eleventh documented case where Colusa County Recovery (CCR) has identified a severely at-risk individual being told, in no uncertain terms, "no funding available."

Responding to Almi's desperate SOS on Saturday, June 21st, a two person team from CCR took immediate action, providing her safe transport from Williams to a friend's home in Colusa for temporary shelter.

Plans are now underway to get Almi the help she urgently needs: CCR will drive her to Behavioral Health Services for an intake and help enroll her in Medi-Cal based community health services offered through a local nonprofit.

Almi's situation exposes a shocking reality for vulnerable unsheltered individuals in the county. Between jobs, without a car, and facing immense personal challenges, she was reportedly devastated to learn that the county's primary homeless service provider, had nothing to offer her – no funding, no housing assistance, no hope. This denial raises troubling questions about homeless resource allocation and services within Colusa County. 

"The denial of assistance to Almi, like the ten cases we documented before hers, is utterly unacceptable," states Susan Wagenaar, a community advocate whose team is working with the area’s unsheltered community to shed light on systemic service gaps and inequities.

"How is it possible that our county's primary homeless service provider is repeatedly turning away severely at-risk individuals with the repeated excuse of 'no funding available?' asks Wagenaar. "This situation demands immediate and aggressive scrutiny. We need transparency, accountability, and a reckoning to ensure that our taxpayer-funded safety net actually catches those who are most vulnerable in Colusa County and in need of shelter."

The time for excuses is over; action is required now.

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Media/Community Contact:

Susan Wagenaar, 530-588-5697, SusanWdcMedia@gmail.com

COLUSA COUNTY RECOVERY'S MISSION

"It's important to meet people impacted by homelessness where they're at, but not leave them where they're at."  - Susan Wagenaar, Advocate, CCR Founder

Keywords: Colusa County, Local News, Advocacy, Homelessness, Unsheltered. Service Delivery Gaps, Unmet Needs, Community Assessment, Homeless Grants, Human Interest Story