LAKE COUNTY— On Thursday several different Lake County departments as well as nonprofit organizations came together to work collaboratively in completing this year’s Person In Time (PIT) count. This count is a biannual requirement of the State of California and intends to establish a snapshot of the county’s homeless population.
Twelve locations participated in the PIT counting event, with both homeless shelters (Hope Center in Clearlake and Xamatin Haven in Lakeport) participating, as well as various churches and other community centers. At all locations the event stretched from 9 a.m to 6 p.m., and according to Head Start representative Angelina Pantaleon at the PIT count at the Kelseyville Methodist Church, “People come in, they sit down and they relax. They enjoy their meal.”
The staff and volunteers strive to provide a comfortable environment and encouragement for any individuals experiencing a lack of housing in order to help them receive any available resources. Pantaleon also shared that this was the first year at this location. The PIT Count was being previously held at the Kelseyville Senior Center. “Every year is good, each year is different,” said Pantaleon.
At the PIT count event individuals were interviewed in order to gain more data on our local unhoused population, but also given a backpack of essential items, hygienic items, clothing, socks, shoes, dog food. They were also provided NarCan. A hot Southern Style barbecue dinner was also served all day, complete with biscuit, salad and macaroni and cheese.
Plenty of non-perishable packaged foods were also available for individuals to take. If they chose further assistance, representatives from many organizations including the Lake County Office of Education, Probation Department, Freedom House, HUB Center, and the Department of Social Services, were ready and waiting to provide avenues on the pathway to housing for these individuals.
A representative from the Department of Social Services at the Kelseyville location shared that there had been at least six applicants assisted with food stamps, cash aid, and or Medi-Cal health on that day. Lake County Office of Education representative Ana Santana noted, “We have to get out and come to them. It’s not so easy to get yourself to social services when you are living under a bridge or in a tent. That’s why it’s best we come to them.”
Linda Ford-Breeding is the Kelseyville Methodist Church Chair President and Manager of its attached thrift store that is open every Monday. Ford-Breeding has been attending this church since childhood and became very involved in volunteering after retiring from her teaching career. Working with the Girl Scouts Troops, Ford-Breeding began providing unsheltered persons programs and today is known for her efforts and especially the Thursday night service that includes a dinner made by local Girl Scouts and showers via a portable shower trailer. The church always has clothing, shoes, hygiene products and emergency food available on hand for individuals in need and is completely self-funded via the church, thrift store, and Girl Scouts groups.
Ford-Breeding shared that the store always needs donations of clothing, specifically men’s pants, socks, shoes, and underwear stating “Some people come in almost naked, and they come in at night when it’s wet and cold so we really go through clothes.” A Kelseyville resident who often provides shelter for those she can, Lisa Jorgensen shared, “It’s great that they give back, with all the showers, meals, and just everything they do.”
According to data made public by Lake County’s Continuum of Care, there were 290 people unsheltered in 2023 which were added to the official count sent to the state, including 110 total emergency sheltered, 91 transitional sheltered for a grand total of 491, up from 339 in 2022 and 306 the previous year.
