The Lake County Continuum of Care (COC) homeless coalition is a coordinating group that aligns resources to facilitate solutions to end homelessness in our community. One committee of the COC is the newly formed Interfaith Committee which specifically helps faith based groups to align their work to serve our homeless neighbors. Together Everyone Achieves More. The committee will meet this Thursday, Dec 20, at 3pm at Hope Center (3400 Emerson Street in Clearlake). This is our first meeting. We will cover what is currently being done to serve our homeless neighbors in Lake County, how faith based groups can help with the operation of our new shower trailer and what projects we would like to request funding support for in the future.
Why is this committee needed?
On Tuesday, Jan. 23, 2018 the Lake County Continuum of Care (COC) held a point-in-time (PIT) survey to count the sheltered and unsheltered homeless individuals and families in Lake County. The PIT count helps the COC gain a better understanding of homelessness in our community and needed services and resources. It also enables the county to apply for federal resources to address the homeless crisis.
What Did the PIT Count Show?
The 107 volunteers coordinated by the COC counted 612 of our neighbors who are homeless. Of these 504 were adults and 108 children, meaning 1 of 6 people who are homeless in Lake County is a child! Here is a breakdown by community.
Lakeport had the highest percentage of children with 29 percent of those counted being under the age of eighteen; 22 Children and 54 adults for a total of 76. Lucerne had a total of 47 residents who are homeless of which 36 were adults and 11 children. Nice/Upper Lake also had 47 total with 39 Adults and 8 children. Our volunteers counted five children and 46 adults in Middletown for a total of 51. In Kelseyville volunteers counted 17 people who are homeless, 14 Adults and three children.
Clearlake, Clearlake Oaks and Lower Lake were grouped together and 293 adults and 26 children counted and identified as being without shelter.
Dec. 20 is close to Christmas and many of us are busy. And yet, for those of us specifically in the Christian tradition part of our narrative for this week in particular is a young pregnant woman and her husband looking for shelter and finding no room at the inn. Are we too busy to provide room? All are welcome to the COC Interfaith Committee meeting.
