Local cities see rise in demand for homeless services

A lot of residents remain concerned with the lack of resources for the homeless community, especially in the West Valley after Roy’s in the Desert closed.

But organizations, including a new West Valley housing program contracted by the Coachella Valley Association of Governments, is helping many people get a roof over their head.

“It’ll keep us warm tonight. It will give us a place to eat, and somewhere to shower,” said Melissa Diaz, who checked into the Coachella Valley Rescue Mission, after being homeless for about two weeks.

“I lived in a sober living home, which I had my son and I can’t keep him there. So I need to move on to a better place where it can help me,” Diaz said.

Diaz is one of hundreds looking for shelter at the CVRM, where they’ve been taking in more people after Roy’s closing last summer.

“A lot of our residents have three jobs at minimum wage and it’s very difficult to live on that and the rents are just continuing to hike,” said Darla Burkett, executive director of the CVRM.

CVRM administrators said Thursday night, they were able to take in 268 people which they say is more people than usual.

“We’ve housed a minimum of 200 a night, that’s a low number. The very minimum is about 250 and we’ve gone up to 307 at some nights,” Burkett said.

In the west valley, a new housing program through Path of Life Ministries has been helping dozens of homeless. 30 people have been provided permanent housing, 26 people have been helped with rent, and nearly 1,200 shelter bed nights of short-term housing for 13 people.

“The national average for success rate in people that are working really hard trying to get out of a shelter, and actually finding housing, is in the low 30s. 31 percent. So what this model does is just focus everything on housing,” Damien O’Farrell, CEO of Path of Life Ministries.

Programs hope to help those like Diaz get back on their feet.

“I’m blessed to have places like this out in the valley,” Diaz said.

O’Farrell also said they’ve opened offices in Desert Hot Springs and Cathedral City and are in the final phase of leasing a Palm Springs location.

KESQ / CBS Local 2’s Zak Dahlheimer spoke with Palm Springs city leaders, they told him that from June 2016 through April 2017, city programs housed more than 100 people in Palm Springs and secured employment for 50 others.

Programs connected 55 people with benefits like health insurance, disability, and social security and referred dozens to behavioral health services. The city also received a grant to help build more resources.

“We’re going to add a second crisis team. so we’ll have coverage not only during the day like we now have. but on nights and weekends. and can focus more on downtown,” said Geoff Kors, Palm Springs city councilmember.