Tahoe Coalition for the Homeless seeks community support in keeping people warm this winter

As our Tahoe winter settles in with snow and frigid temperatures, most residents retreat to the inside for activities, comforts, and warm beds in a place we call home. Our South Shore community has been able to sleep better knowing that our homeless population has this option as well. This winter season marks the seventh anniversary of the Tahoe Coalition for the Homeless (TCH) providing warm beds to the most vulnerable in our community.

While Tahoe is loved for its winter sports, 10-degree overnight low temperatures are especially difficult for those who do not have shelter. Most people experiencing homelessness have lived in the community for many years, are our neighbors and residents, and Tahoe is their home too.

However, the average cost of a studio unit in our community is between $1,030-$1,431. This cost is hefty and often unattainable for someone making minimum wage, on disability, or on social security income. Many times it's over 50 percent of their monthly income.

For five years, TCH provided a Warm Room to provide shelter from the winter cold and storms. Covid then made it unsafe to house large groups. In 2020, TCH purchased three motel properties in South Lake Tahoe that currently house more than 40 residents, with restoration still underway to be able to house more. This all comes with ongoing costs.

The Tahoe Coalition for the Homeless needs our community’s help and support to continue to care for this fragile population, especially in the upcoming winter months. Visit https://tahoehomeless.org/ or send support to Box 13514, S. Lake Tahoe, CA 96151. Shelter is a basic essential need for all of us, and we can ensure this need is met for all this winter.

- Tom Makris, President
Board of Directors
tom@tahoehomeless.org
(530) 600-2822