North Tahoe - Truckee Homeless Services

On July 1, 2023 we began our 4th full year of vital safety net support services,vices and this winter would be our 9th winter running the Emergency Warming Center.  

This grass roots community effort began in 2014 and has grown each year to fill a void in safety net and housing supports for our unhoused and under-housed neighbors.  In November 2020 our Emergency Warming Center program was absorbed into AMI Housing Inc who created North Tahoe Truckee Homeless Services.  This partnership was a huge step towards longer term stability and gave us the structure and ability to access to federal funding to help sustain these vital supports and move towards the larger goal of preventing and ending homelessness in the North Tahoe Truckee region.

Our life giving & life saving programs this year are:

1. The Day Center currently opens Tuesday through Friday each day from 1pm-5pm. This is a safe space to access bathrooms,   showers, warm meals, laundry, connection to necessities and a place to be part of a community.  We operate as a "Navigation Center" and provide case management, entry to county services & support guests with housing plans and other steps forward.   
2.  Street Outreach:  We have a full time Outreach Coordinator who is supported by other staff to create a team approach and meet neighbors where they are.  Working to develop relationships, provide necessities and encourage these neighbors to engage in other support services. They also provide case management to clients who want to take steps forward to personal goals.
3. Case Management & Housing Support:    We have case managers who in addition to keeping the programs running, are focused on helping neighbors collect their needed documentation and connect to services and benefits. The entire team works together to support with housing plans and to get newly homeless neighbors back into housing quickly.   We also support with post housing case management to help newly housed neighbors adjust to being housed, and to remain housed.
4. Emergency Warming Center:  This year we are unable to be the lead agency to run this program.  This decision was made on October 1st with the hopes of helping our unhoused neighbors with other housing plans and to give other agencies the opportunity to partner on a solution for emergency shelter for the winter.   We will partner to support this effort.

For tangible stories and statistics of what your support enables our team to do, herehere is a link to our 2023 Annual Report & Success Stories:  Link to Annual Report & Success Stories

Here is one story of a 45 year old man we'll refer to as Jeremiah.   Jeremiah had been unhoused in the Truckee Tahoe region for 10 years, and had engaged in our support services since the Emergency Warming Center began in the winter of 2015.   When low-income apartments became available in Truckee, he,  he was not interested in applying, but after seeing other neighbors secure housing, he decided to discuss housing plans with his case manager.  They put in applications together and after months of being on a waitlist,  Jeremiah was able to secure an apartment!    Since being housed, he has worked towards several of his goals: establishing a credit line, opening a bank account, and connecting to a primary care doctor.  Previously, he had not proactively been to a doctor in over 10 years.  Jeremiah stated "NTTHS has given me my life back.  I felt seen,  cared for, and respected regardless of my housing status.  That's why I continue to come back to the day center and check in."   He is still happily housed and enjoying life independently.

Story in honor of Hunger & Homelessness Awareness:  Kathy & Spot ~ Blog November 2023

Our team, volunteers & neighbors in need,  appreciate your support as we continue to provide access to vital safety net services and End Homelessness in the North Tahoe - Truckee region, one person at a time.  Your support will help us continue these programs as we advocate for long term, "right size" supports to be created in this region. We are hopeful that through the newly formed Tahoe Truckee Homeless Advisory Committee that this shared vision will become a reality.    To learn more about the TTHAC and ways to help advocate for sustainable programs send me an email: CFoley@amihousing.org