Tahoe Homeless Coalition housed 148 people this winter; New services now offered

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - The Tahoe Coalition for the Homeless (TCH) had settled into their new winter home on 3rd Street in South Lake Tahoe when the COVID-19 pandemic hit, forcing them to look for a larger space to get more people off the streets.

The City of South Lake Tahoe opened its recreation center to the nonprofit as it was already closed due to the pandemic, allowing TCH to add more beds and services and become a 24/7 facility.

There were concerns about the spread of COVID-19 at any public place, including the shelter but they ended their stay at the recreation center with just one case, and no additional transmissions.

TCH is reporting a 25 percent increase in the number of people they served this winter. They saw 148 guests with an average of 27 people in their beds nightly, with a high of 42. Not only did they shelter at the recreation center, but they were also able to use motels. Homeless families with young children used 16 motel nights, and 31 "highly vulnerable" clients were able to shelter in place at a motel for five weeks.

They have listed some successes during the challenging weeks they were open:

- Housing a high vulnerability veteran during the COVID-19 pandemic.
- Assisted a client in reuniting with his long lost son.
- Worked with a couple who had been homeless for seven years. They connected them with appropriate mental health care and benefits so the couple was able to move into their own apartment with their two dogs without any financial assistance.
- The community stepped up in a huge way and donated enough food for us to provide a ham dinner for our guests at Easter.
- Two high vulnerability clients who were staying in their motel program to self-isolate were able to transition into permanent housing.

Besides housing, there were showers and laundry available at the center. According to a TCH report, 575 showers were taken and their staff processed 367 loads of laundry.

Now that the winter shelter has ended, the Coalition has expanded into a permanent office above Christmas Cheer (1120 3rd Street, Suite B), thanks to Barton Health.

There is now a wide range of services provided at this location:

● A coffee and snack bar for clients visiting to receive case management services
● A basic needs pantry for warm socks, hygiene supplies, and snacks
● An open, vented meeting space for small group counseling sessions
● A small telehealth therapy room for clients to access service providers remotely
● A computer station for clients to check email, create a resume, or apply for jobs
● Small, waterproof storage bins to keep client personal belongings safe and secure
● A restroom with toilet, sink, shower, and tub so clients can stay clean and dignified
● Several private staff offices for conducting meetings and continuing case management

They are continuing to adapt and expand and will offer these programs to meet the needs of the homeless population:

● Hand-washing kits and information to ensure unsheltered individuals can stay clean
● A telehealth counseling space and appointment schedule to access remote providers
● Training for partners on the Coordinated Entry System for homeless individuals
● An online training video library on key topics like Trauma, Boundaries, and Harm Reduction
● A cell phone program to ensure clients can communicate with us and other providers
● A counseling program for telehealth, one-on-one, walking, and small group sessions
● A mail hold program so that clients without a permanent address can receive mail
● A landlord engagement toolkit to help develop strategies for housing access
● Third-party payee services to ensure client rent is always paid to landlords on time
● And more programs on the horizon

The annual Beach Bash fundraiser for the Coalition will not be held this year due to COVID-19 restrictions and guidelines on large social gatherings. They are seeking donations to help in their goal of ending homelessness on the South Shore. More information can be found on their website, https://tahoehomeless.org/.