Last week, the City Of Clearlake passed a proclamation declaring May “Homeless Youth Awareness Month.”

As defined by the federal guidelines, the numbers of homeless youth are, not surprisingly, on the rise.

Our youth, like our general population, are experiencing great hardships in these difficult financial times.

For several years now, hundreds of students in Lake County have found themselves without a permanent or adequate home.

They are living with other families in a single family dwelling, moving from couch to couch, or living in travel trailers or even tool sheds.

The most recent phenomenon is that a family is notified that the house that they are renting is going through foreclosure and they are being evicted. They find themselves looking for housing with inadequate funds.

What makes things even worse is that many of the government-supported programs and organizations designed to help those who are hungry and homeless are experiencing severe cutbacks.

The cumulative impact is that students come to school hungry, sleepy and traumatized. They have a rudimentary idea of why their family is having such difficult times; a mom or dad lost a job, the bank took the house, “we have no money.”

How we react as a community and as individuals during this time of crisis will show our true character. We can help a child move from being in crisis to seeing opportunities in life.

One example of this is the resurgence of the Lake Community Pride Foundation. This nonprofit foundation has been restructured to support programs that have been cast adrift due to the financial problems of the Lake County Community Action Agency.

Here, when one organization that was helping many struggling members of our community loses its ability to help, another comes forth to take its place.

The Pride Foundation is supported through contributions from caring members of our community. It has the mission to help youth in Lake County and has just taken over the operation of the Safe House of Lake County and the Clearlake Youth Center, while keeping its original focus on supporting the performing arts in schools.

There are currently four students living in the safe house, with a full-time volunteer counselor. Of these four students, three are seniors; two have recently found jobs.

Members of Pride are working with the senior students to create transition plans with them so that they know what to do, now and in the future, to meet their basic needs and move forward towards their goals.

Without the safe house, they would not be walking across the stage at graduation. Now, they are graduating, working, enrolling in college classes and budgeting for their next residence.

The support of our community has brought them from crisis to opportunity – something that they will never forget. It shows what we can do when we give whatever we can afford to help our neighbors and youth in crisis – we help them get back on their feet and provide hope.

The Pride Foundation is holding a golf tournament, dinner and auction on Saturday, May 21, at Rob Roy Golf Course. This is the main fundraiser for the year for the Safe House.

There are many ways to contribute: sponsoring a golf hole (a sign with your name or business will be placed at the hole); donating an auction item or just joining us at the event (play golf, have dinner and enjoy the always lively auction).

For more information about Pride or the golf tournament you can contact Carol Germenis (928-4280), Aggie Berry (489-6524), or Bill MacDougall (279-8935).

William R. MacDougall, Ed.D. is superintendent of the Konocti Unified School District, based in Lower Lake, Calif.