New housing opportunities for homeless transitional aged youth in South Lake Tahoe

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - Tahoe Youth & Family Services (TYFS) has announced a groundbreaking new Transitional Living, Rapid Re-housing, and Homeless Prevention Program for transitional aged youth (18-24 years old) that are currently homeless or at-risk of becoming homeless in South Lake Tahoe. This homeless prevention program is a one-time block grant funded by the Homeless Emergency Aid Program (HEAP) and will be available to our community over the next two years.

Transitional Living, Rapid Re-housing, and Homeless Prevention Programs have been proven successful by quickly ending youth homelessness by helping them find and move into stable living environments within their community. The idea is to connect young people experiencing homelessness to permanent housing and help them exit homelessness faster – at a fraction of the cost of other interventions. Once back in housing, youth are in a better position to address their challenges that may have led to their homelessness – such as finding a job and receiving case management. These programs are participant-driven and will actively engage youth by creating a goal-setting environment based on what the client wants from the program. Case management will provide comprehensive and individualized services that will include community and mainstream resources, employment services, vocational assistance, education programs, support groups, substance abuse treatment, as well as health and behavioral health resources all designed to help young people who are homeless make a successful transition to self-sufficiency and sustainable living.

TYFS will utilize the core components of the Rapid Re-housing model: housing identification, move-in, and rental assistance, and case management services with the intent that youth will move into permanent supportive housing. Due to the high cost of living and low-paying seasonal jobs in South Lake Tahoe, TYFS will adopt creative strategies, such as renting rooms, co-tenancy, or shared housing, to increase the likelihood that youth will move from being supported in their housing, to retaining and maintaining their housing, over time.

TYFS has more than 45 years of experience working with youth who are either at the immediate risk of being homeless or who are already on the streets. We seek to help young people find and establish stability, improve their overall wellness and better their quality of life. By providing transitional living, rapid re-housing, and homeless prevention options, TYFS looks forward to meeting the needs of homeless and at-risk youth by providing flexible options that meet their individualized needs.

To apply for HEAP please contact Cheyanne Lane at Tahoe Youth and Family Services
at (530) 541-2445 ext. 112 or cheyanne@tahoeyouth.org.