By RHEA-FRANCES TETLEY
Staff Writer
The Mountain Homeless Coalition held a summit on the housing problems on the mountain, discussing both the problems in housing the homeless on the mountain and the potential for more becoming homeless on the mountain because of many current economic conditions.
A conclusion presented was there are enough beds in the community, but they are not being fully utilized at this time.
The mission statement of the San Bernardino County Homeless Partnership is “to provide a system of care that is inclusive, well planned, coordinated and evaluated and is accessible to all who are homeless and those at-risk of becoming homeless.”
The Mountain Homeless Coalition doesn’t always have the funds to provide hotel housing for those moving from encampments to housing. So, they try to prevent homelessness from occurring whenever possible and have moved into direct service by renovating a motel in the Big Bear area, adding kitchenettes and renting out the units longer term. They would like to add more additional dwelling units (ADUs) to the property. They would like to replicate this success when funding and the proper properties arise.
The speakers focused on the tight housing market in the mountains and the extreme costs to build new housing. The cost of housing is now preventing some businesses from being able to find enough qualified employees, as employees cannot afford to live in the area.
Kelly Ent of Big Bear said COVID decreased vacationers, and then short-term rentals (STRs) reduced the number of homes to rent long term and increased their price. Home prices increased by 40 percent and wages increased by 6 percent. Home sale prices are above $577,000 so homes are overpriced for what the employees can qualify to buy from the wages they earn. He said they need zoning changes to increase the density with more ADUs on each lot to create additional housing, or multi-family housing. Affordable housing has decreased by 15,000 units in the last 10 years.
Nathan Castile, also from Big Bear, suggested that campgrounds could be a source of land for future development of multi-family housing developments if rezoned. The Leisure Bear Mobile Home Park in Big Bear needs either upgrades or redevelopment.
There was concern raised that the current residents may be made homeless by these changes, but they were assured the city has a grant so no one would become homeless with the upcoming development of the site, which is still under discussion.
Presentations were made on the partnerships that help mitigate homelessness and ways that churches help the homeless and marginal income residents to keep them from becoming homelessness through food banks and clothing donations. Some churches offer short-term housing along with counseling and job skills classes for those already on the streets.
One of the options that does work is the idea of shared housing, such as the Golden Girls TV show concept, where several people rent a house together, each having their own bedroom and using the common areas such as the kitchen, much like a family. It often takes some counseling to get the proper people to live together successfully.
This is the philosophy of senior housing, which has worked well for decades. Shared housing reduces isolation, builds friendships, helps with transportation and builds social responsibility while servicing more people while using fewer individual resources.
On the mountain, those who are empty nesters are finding it difficult to pay the insurance for their homes. The Mountain Homeless Coalition is seeking those who would like to rent out those empty bedrooms, offering kitchen privileges to a vetted adult. Those who be renting the rooms would be working adults, who are not currently homeless but cannot afford to remain on the mountain with the rising rent prices.
The Mountain Homeless Coalition, in coordination with Rim Family Services, is seeking homeowners who have extra rooms that may be rented to the correct person, with rules that breed success. When there is a case manager interviewing the residents and coordinating rules, the shared living works best, said Paul Fournier. For shared housing to be successful, all must pay rent, must contribute to the household and be held responsible for their behavior and fulfilling their responsibilities. Decent, safe, affordable, roommate modeling and lifestyle matching makes shared housing not only possible but successful.
Homeowners who find these ideas fascinating and want to know how to be involved, or those who would like to help the Coalition by volunteering a few hours of work or would like more information, should contact the Mountain Homeless Coalition at (909) 713-4099 or wecare@mtnhomeless.com or visit their Facebook page or website (mountainhomelesscoalition.com).
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