Mandy Feder — Managing editor
CLEARLAKE — Following budget cuts of 50 to 75 percent, the TLC House (Transitional Living Center) is closing its doors.
Since 1993, women with children were given shelter while completing alcohol and/or drug rehabilitation. At the same time the women were learning to become self-sufficient, independent and responsible in a safe and secure environment.
Current residents, women and children, will be displaced on Feb. 28.
“The closing of TLC is a travesty,” Denise Newman, lead AOD counselor for New Beginnings, said. “It is a true loss to the community.”
Outreach director and administrator Janet Thomson said “everywhere we go in the community, you will see our women/graduates working, contributing to society. They started out with nothing and by the time they leave they have the guidance to find jobs and go to school, take better care of their children and themselves.”
TLC has been home to approximately 380 women.
“We are one of the few in California that allows children to stay with the mother until she graduates our program. We”d like to thank everyone who has contributed the past two years to keep us afloat,” Thomson said.
Erika Tedson and her baby Emily are currently living at the house and attending the program. Erika will be displaced with her baby. The program made it possible for mother and daughter to be together.
Erika will complete and graduate the program in a few months. She will need to find affordable housing for herself and baby Emily. She will resume her profession as a hair dresser/stylist in the Lake County area and enroll in college. She also wants to continue her passion for playing the violin.
Thomson said she would like to be able to house the women, there are typically six to eight and their children, but the overhead is simply too high. “The house is old and the heating costs are astronomical,” she said.
Lake County Community Action Agency would like to find an efficient house, Thomson speculated, “It may take a couple of years.”
“There”s hope. If someone were to offer an efficient home at reasonable rent, we”d love to hear from them,” Thomson said. New Beginnings is a program of Lake County Community Action Agency of Clearlake located at 6885 Old Highway 53 in Clearlake. TLC, a part of New Beginnings services, is currently located at 14682 Main St. in Lower Lake.
New Beginnings is the parent facility to the youth services division. Schools within the Konocti Unified School District supported by LCAA are Highlands Academy and W.C. Carle, where students have access to certified drug and alcohol counselors staffed at each site.
Thomson wished to thank the community, staff and volunteers for everything they have done to save the TLC.
“Thank you to everyone who gave money during the Million Dollar Babies Drive, Mexican feed silent auction fundraiser, all the car washes, bake sales and rummage sales. Your giving helped us sustain the TLC during these hard times. Thank you to everyone who has graciously donated clothing, baby items, furniture and women”s items. Special thanks to Soroptimist International of Clearlake that gave a $10,000 transportation grant to assist our clients. Most of all a thank you goes to Georgina Lehne, executive director of LCAA, who has given so much of her self to keep this program going,” Thomson said.
For more information or to provide assistance call 995-3235.
Mandy Feder can be reached at mandyfeder@yahoo.com or call directly 263-5636 ext. 32.
