Tahoe Coalition for the Homeless announces Project Homekey success and transition in leadership

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. – The Tahoe Coalition for the Homeless (TCH) has announced that over the last two years, unsheltered homelessness in South Lake Tahoe is down by more than 80 percent, and calls for service and avoidable hospitalizations reduced by over 40 percent. They also recently achieved ‘functional zero’ for Veteran homelessness.

In late 2020, TCH purchased three old motels near the Y. Over the last two years, they have worked to rehabilitate the properties and convert them to affordable housing with services for the community’s unhoused population. Today TCH houses 40 people and hopes to bring that number up to 60 over the next year. With this investment in the community, TCH is transforming its local ecosystem of care from temporary emergency shelter to permanent housing with services.

This effort has been led by Executive Director Cheyenne Purrington. Cheyenne helped gain access to state funding via Project Homekey and set them on the path to successfully transition from an all-volunteer, winter shelter to a proactive housing organization. Cheyenne is now leaving the organization

While the nonprofit looks for the right leader to help reach its future goals, the Board of Directors will be stepping up to aid the team with our daily operations. The Board is dedicated to continuing to offer life-changing services and completing necessary improvements to the three properties in order to provide permanent affordable housing with services long into the future.

As they head into the colder months, TCH continues to call for community support including volunteers, donations, and advocacy. If you’d like to learn more about what they do and get involved, please email them at info@tahoehomeless.org.