Older adults make up the fastest-growing share of California’s homeless population.
To meet their needs locally, Sacramento County this spring opened Nottoli Place, a small shelter or “safe house” for adults ages 60 and up who are homeless or victims of abuse or neglect.
The 15 beds at the facility aren’t nearly enough to shelter the thousands of Sacramentans who are aging without a secure place to live. But residents and staff say they’re a sign of progress — and offer a new beginning.
Hershell Walthall poses in his private room at Nottoli Place, Wednesday, July 12, 2023.Andrew Nixon / CapRadio“I feel blessed,” said Herschel Walthall, 74, who has spent the past three months at Nottoli Place after separating from his family. “There’s not a lot of places like this. It’s very unique.”
Walthall, a former school bus driver, added, “If you take advantage of it, it’s got a lot to offer. This has a program to actually help you.”
That help includes meals, case management and connections to housing. Staff from Volunteers of America of Northern California and Northern Nevada operate Nottoli Place. The nonprofit runs several other emergency shelters and transitional housing programs across the region.
Unlike larger dorm-style shelters, Nottoli Place offers residents their own room and a door that locks. Sobriety is not a requirement though guests can not use drugs or alcohol on-site.
One pet is allowed per person at the safe house, which is located in the unincorporated Rosemont neighborhood. Some rooms have a second bed for residents who have caretakers.
Kimberley Hayes opens the blinds in her room at Nottoli Place, Wednesday, July 12, 2023.Andrew Nixon / CapRadio
Kimberley Hayes keeps a shrine in her private room at Nottoli Place, something not permitted or practical in most other shelters, Wednesday, July 12, 2023.Andrew Nixon / CapRadio
Residents are referred to Nottoli Place by the county’s adult protective services. Applicants must live in Sacramento County.
Over the past five years, the county has opened an average of 5,300 cases each year related to abuse and or neglect of older residents, said Brian Pyne, a county program manager. Some result in these adults needing a new, safe home.
“Sometimes there is abuse by a family member or sometimes there are instances where people are sort of priced out of their housing,” Pyne said.
Economic displacement is becoming more common, said Chris Stanwick, program director at Nottoli Place.
“One of the things that we are noticing more prevalently is individuals who have lived in a home for 50 years, the home was paid off, now they’re on minimal Social Security and unable to pay the property tax,” he said. “So that stacks up and stacks up and stacks up and they’re forced out of their homes because they owe this back property tax.”
The facility is named after recently retired Sacramento County Supervisor Don Nottoli, who helped spearhead the project.
Nottoli said the inspiration came from an eye-opening report from several years ago. He said it found the County, due to its lack of safe house beds, was turning away an average of two people every day who qualified for placement.
“You do the math and that’s well over 700 people a year who were seniors, abused, neglected, homeless,” Nottoli added.
Officials said the Sacramento Senior Safe House in Carmichael is the only program in the region similar to Nottoli Place, though it has a smaller capacity with six beds.
Sacramento County spent nearly $560,000 to remodel the building that houses Nottoli Place. Meanwhile, the state’s Home Safe program pays $1 million annually for shelter operations, according to Pyne, the county official.
“Current funding through state Home Safe funds is available through 2025 and Sacramento County is hopeful that the state will extend the funding beyond that time,” Pyne added in an email.
Following a tour of the facility this week, staff at Nottoli Place said several residents have already lined up longer-term housing, including Walthall, the former bus driver.
Walthall said he’s moving into a senior apartment complex in Natomas later this week.
“I think it’s going to be a good new move in my life,” he added. “I’m going to be able to move forward from here and get things accomplished.”
Hershell Walthall shows his private room at Nottoli Place, a shelter for seniors who have experienced abuse, Wednesday, July 12, 2023.Andrew Nixon / CapRadioFor questions about eligibility in Sacramento County’s adult protective services program (APS), or to report abuse or neglect, call the APS hotline at 916-874-9377. To learn more about Sacramento County APS, click here.
To learn more about Volunteers of America and its shelters, visit here. To get involved, click on the "How You Can Help" tab.
Contact CapRadio reporter Chris Nichols at [email protected].
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