Tahoe Homeless Coalition receives grant for year-round mental health services

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. – A donation from Vail Resorts Chief Executive Officer Rob Katz and his wife, Elana Amsterdam is allowing the Tahoe Coalition for the Homeless (TCH) to offer more mental health services to those experiencing homelessness on the South Shore.

In December, the Katz Amsterdam Charitable Trust made more than $2M in contributions to support emotional wellness programs in nearly every mountain resort community in which Vail Resorts operates, including South Lake Tahoe.

“It is our hope that these grants will help improve access to much-needed services around mental health and substance abuse and reduce the stigma and misunderstanding around these issues to encourage more people to get the help they need,” said Katz. “It is our privilege to be able to support so many outstanding organizations and meaningful programs already in place across our local communities in Colorado, Utah, Tahoe, British Columbia, Vermont, and New Hampshire.”

This donation will provide year-round counseling and case management in South Lake Tahoe, even after the Warm Room closes for the season. They also are able to have a substance use disorder support group in the Warm Room.

"Tahoe Coalition for the Homeless is incredibly grateful for this support from Rob Katz and Elana Amsterdam," said TCH Executive Director Dr. Marissa Muscat. "By investing in mental health services, we will improve client well-being and help remove barriers to obtaining housing."

The Warm Room is an overnight emergency winter shelter in its fourth winter of operation. Since 2015 the Warm Room has been open for over 440 nights and provided over 9200 shelter bed nights to people experiencing homelessness in our area. This year, the Warm Room will close on April 13. Donations are welcomed to aid in funding the Warm Room. Checks can be made payable Tahoe Coalition for the Homeless and mailed to PO Box 13514, South Lake Tahoe, CA 96151. Donations can also be made on our website at https://tahoehomeless.org Donations of clothing, blankets, toiletries and other necessities for our guests are also accepted at the Warm Room – contact Susie Stich at susie@tahoehomeless.org or 530-600-2822 to schedule a drop-off.

About Tahoe Coalition for the Homeless
Tahoe Coalition for the Homeless is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization that works with local, state, and federal agencies to decrease local homelessness through a “Housing First” approach. Our goal is to assist homeless individuals in stabilizing their lives and finding long-term housing. Last year nineteen people found housing while staying in the Warm Room. Two veterans were connect to out-of-state family and returned home. Of those who stayed with us, 27% had employment, and by having a warm place to sleep they were better prepared to keep their jobs. In its fourth year of operation the South Lake Tahoe Warm Room has served over 350 unduplicated individuals and provided 442 nights of shelter and over 9200 shelter bed nights to the homeless in our community.