In the city of Lincoln, a contentious debate has arisen over the proposed location of the Gathering Inn, a respite center intended to support vulnerable populations. This initiative has divided residents and ignited a wave of concerns over its potential impact on the community.
The Gathering Inn project aims to provide shelter and support for individuals experiencing homelessness in Lincoln. Advocates believe it can be a beacon of hope and compassion for those in need of assistance.
The suggested place for the Gathering Inn has raised eyebrows as it has made some of the residents argue the location is too close to houses and schools. The limits of the center’s interventions and its target population in the neighborhood are also questioned.
As the information concerning the Gathering Inn traveled, Lincoln residents’ worries began to escalate. Many voiced their concerns about the potential disruptions to their kids’ daily lives as well as the overall welfare of the community. “They wouldn’t talk to the city, which told me they had something to hide.” Diane Whitlock, a protester, stated in an interview. Public safety emerged as another area of great concern, with some believing that the establishment of the Gathering Inn would lead to increased crime and disturbances.
With all the controversy surrounding the Gathering Inn, we reached out to them for a response to the protest.
Recently, there was a protest about The Gathering Inn’s new medical respite center coming to Lincoln. It’s understandable that people have concerns, especially when it’s about keeping our community and schools safe. We want to make sure everyone, including students at Glen Edwards Middle School, understands what this center truly represents.
The new medical respite center is not a shelter or a place for unhoused people to hang out. It’s a safe and quiet environment for people recovering from surgeries or serious illnesses who have no home to return to.
Imagine if someone’s grandparent needed a place to get better after being in the hospital. The medical respite center provides supportive space where The Gathering Inn helps them heal. Our guests are adults, usually senior citizens, who simply need support as they recover.
Safety is our top priority. We know it’s important to keep everyone, especially students, safe. That’s why we have staff on-site 24/7 to make sure everything runs smoothly and securely. Our guests won’t be wandering around outside the building, and no unauthorized visitors are allowed. We will accompany them if they have to leave the facility for an appointment or errand. We’re committed to keeping the facility clean, well-lit, and peaceful, just like it was when it was an assisted living facility.
One of the best things about our medical respite program is that most of our guests find a stable place to live after they recover, which helps reduce homelessness in our community. For the very few who choose to return to where they were living before, our staff makes sure they get back to that place safely.
We understand that knowledge of this project came quickly, and that’s why we’re eager to work with city leaders, schools, and the entire community to address any concerns. We want to be good neighbors and make sure everyone feels safe and supported.
To all the students and families at Glen Edwards Middle School, please know that we’re here to help the people who need it most, and we’re committed to keeping you safe. You can hold us accountable for this commitment. Darlene Cullivan, The Gathering Inn
After seeing this side of the story we reached out to Holly Andreatta from the city council;
Dear GEMS Panther,
The Gathering Inn received a $6.4 million dollar grant from the state to create a homeless medical respite
facility. However, they used fraudulent information to obtain that grant. The grant calls for community
outreach and support from the governing body of the community. They did neither of those things in the
process. They purposely kept it a secret from Lincoln officials and used old letters of support from a Roseville
project that fell through in 2022.
They say they want to work with the City and “be good neighbors,” however, what they tell us about the
The program is very different from what is stated on the grant application. Their story is inconsistent, and it is hard
to trust the information they share with city officials and the community surrounding the 3 rd street facility.
They showed zero concern for the fact that the building they purchased, in secret, is very close to two WPUSD
schools, in near proximity to two other schools, and a low-income senior apartment complex right across the
street with vulnerable residents. They have shown no concern for the added burden this will put on our public
safety resources.
Their plan is to provide 60 beds for homeless medical respite and another 40 plus beds as permanent
supportive housing, which basically means a homeless shelter. They have tried to sell this to the community as
“helping older sick people.” In reality, what we feared is already happening. Two homeless individuals showed
up at GEMS looking for the facility and expressed their need for “medical respite.” Obviously, these two were
not in the hospital. They heard about the new facility coming and came looking for it on your campus. When
TGI says that safety is their top priority, is that what they meant?
Also, we have reports of homeless from other parts of California being given bus and rail tickets to make their
way to Placer County and Lincoln. Word has already spread. We found three new homeless tents in our ravine.
Lincoln has done tremendous work to assist our homeless population. We have reduced the number of people
living on the streets and in the ravine from about 47 to 20 by providing services and helping them obtain
housing.
It is not right for TGI to bring hundreds of new homeless people to our community when our town does not
need that facility. We are not prepared to handle the influx that will most definitely come if this program is
allowed to proceed.
Keith Diederich, the CEO of The Gathering Inn, recently said that, and I quote, “The mission of TGI is more
important and bigger than the City of Lincoln.” I think the 50,000+ tax paying citizens of Lincoln might
disagree with him.
Lincoln was just rated the 7 th safest city in California, number 1 in northern California. That will all change
once TGI sets up shop on 3 rd street.
I’m available if you have any other questions.
Vice Mayor Holly Andreatta
In conclusion The Gathering Inn, a respite center designed to serve vulnerable people, has been the subject of an intense controversy regarding its proposed location in Lincoln. As the community becomes more aware of all the details of the project, varying opinions continue to grow more divided. If you wish to contact the Gathering Inn, you can contact Darlene Culliva [email protected]
You can also contact Vice Mayor Holly Andreatta from the City Council at
