The cooling center operating out of the Palm Springs United Methodist Church, which was originally scheduled to close on Sept. 30, will remain open until October, Riverside County Supervisor V. Manuel Perez said in a statement. hurry.
Riverside County and Martha’s Village and Kitchen, an Indio-based homeless service provider, opened the 24-hour cooling center, located at 1555 E. Alejo Road, on July 6. The center provided clients with a place to sleep at night and with food. , as well as access to various services, with the ultimate goal of finding permanent accommodation.
The county allocated $ 277,000 for the 24-hour cooling center, and an additional $ 20,000 came from the Desert Healthcare District, The Desert Sun previously reported.
Read more: 24 Hour Cooling Center opens in Palm Springs: “We’re doing the job we’re supposed to do”
Perez was granted an additional month of funding, according to a press release from the supervisor’s office, and church leadership also agreed to the extension. The amount was not disclosed.
“I am very happy that we were able to find additional resources for this precious summer resource. I would like to thank Martha’s Village, The United Methodist Church of Palm Springs, the Desert Healthcare District and the City of Palm Springs for the collaborative partnership we have had in this operation, ”Supervisor Perez said in a statement.
The county previously operated an overnight church cooling center last summer.
Martha’s Village CEO Linda Barrack said in a statement, “We were very honored to be a part of this operation this summer and look forward to providing the shelter and case management services for an additional month.”
Martha’s Village also operates the Palm Springs Access Center, located on the site of the former Palm Springs Boxing Club at 225 S. El Cielo Road, near the airport. A ribbon-cutting ceremony and day of action will take place at 9:30 a.m. on September 30.
Read more: Ribbon cutting set for the inauguration of the homeless access center of the former boxing club
The wrap-around services available at the center include: assistance with health, disability, food stamps, identity cards and social security; vouchers for laundry services, bus passes and clean clothes; computer lab and telephones; medical services or periodic referrals on site; case management; access to behavioral health services; employment assistance; a family reunification program; and access to other support services such as cash and non-cash benefits.
Ema Sasic covers health in the Coachella Valley. Contact her at ema.sasic@desertsun.com or on Twitter @ema_sasic.