Possible new home for South Lake Tahoe homeless warming room

At the last count there were 82 homeless persons and ten homeless families living in South Lake Tahoe, and to help protect them during the winter, the Lake Tahoe Homeless Coalition has operated a Warm Room in the city.

They too are now homeless and asked the City Council on Tuesday to move into the city-owned building at 1195 Rufus Allen Boulevard, the former home of Unity at the Lake church.

Council today provided direction to City Manager Nancy Kerry to negotiate a contract with the Tahoe Coalition for the Homeless to move into the location, contingent upon a working group of concerned parties to come up with an amiable agreement and addressing their concerns.

For the past two years the coalition has operated a Warm Room in the community and have been in the process of identifying potential new sites for the upcoming winter. The location where they operated last winter has its ADA compliant driveway covered by a Caltrans project and he was unable to rent to them. A building at the Y was identified but the landlord changed their mind just as a check was prepared to pay for their rent.

Last winter the Warm Room was open 137 nights, served 148 individuals, and provided 3741 shelter bed nights. Since families with children were not allowed, seven families with 14 children were given temporary vouchers for motels.

The Warm Room has been giving shelter to the unsheltered, a place to stay warm while they sleep, a hot cup of coffee, a bowl of oatmeal and access to other services should they need them.

Its what the patrons of the Warm Room do before and after staying that brought neighbors to Tuesday's meeting.

The Tahoe Coalition for the Homeless is facing concerns of neighbors about having a homeless shelter in their neighborhood. There is a school bus stop nearby that has pick ups at 7:00 a.m. and 8:15 p.m. and youth nearby at the recreation center, library and Boys and Girls Club. They are also concerned about homeless wandering their neighborhood, breaking in, and creating an unsafe climate for their families.

City Manager Nancy Kerry suggested the partners involved in the issue around homeless housing get together and hammer out concerns about the Warm Room. Those partners would include LTUSD, Parks & Recreation, neighbors, Boys and Girls Club and two councilmembers. The Council agreed and Kerry will meet with the stakeholders this week, and depending on the outcome, have the Warm Room open within a few weeks. Permits will still have to be obtained once a landlord is decided.

Some local churches have offered to house the homeless for a week or two while the winter home is decided. That would require special use permits for them as well.

Unity Church had been paying $1,700 a month for the same location. One year ago the City told them they'd have to move as the building would be the base of operations for the new recreation center. The church is now out and construction crews won't be in until Spring, so timing for the Warm Room fits into the City's schedule.

If approved, the Tahoe Coalition for the Homeless would pay about $5,000 for the four months they'll be operating. This is a one winter agreement and the Coalition will be searching for another home next year.