A master lease leads to needed housing

After years of planning and several attempts in various locations, the Mountain Homeless Coalition has successfully master leased six small cabins in Big Bear Lake.

With a master lease, the property owner receives a fixed rent from Mountain Homeless Coalition each month. In exchange, the Coalition can use the units as they choose – for brief sub-leases for clients or as emergency shelter, more like a hotel room for those who cannot pay and need shelter for the night.

All guests will be offered housing navigation and other services.  As permanent housing is located for current guests, the Coalition will be able to re-use the units for new guests and for winter shelter.

Less than a week after the lease was signed, the Coalition’s energetic navigator and devoted board members had outfitted each furnished unit with kitchen supplies and towels and bedding. A smoking area was designated. Donated bunk beds were cut in half to provide more single beds in smaller units.  The units were ready for use.

All six units are currently occupied, some with individuals who had been sleeping in the forest or in their cars; some with seniors on fixed income, struggling to find affordable housing; and one with a working couple who had been living out of their car.

The Mountain Homeless Coalition thanks the owner, board members Annette and Melinda, staff Susan and Becky and maintenance men Steve and Greg for hours and hours of hard work to get everything ready. And they extend a special thank you to the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians for providing the grant that made this possible.