Desert Hot Springs Community Task Force renovates Shea Veterans Center for homeless veterans
Today, the Desert Hot Springs Community Task Force began renovations to its Shea Veterans facility. The building has been helping house homeless veterans, and offers help with jobs and mental health services.
The building has ten individual units and has provided shelter for more than 50 residents.
"They are the veterans that served our country," said CEO David Shea. "And so we figure give them the best opportunity, give them the best space, living space that we can possibly give them. So as a give back to them for their service, we're just going to make it feel like home as much as possible within the budget that we have." Shea's mother first acquired the property in 2019, and since then it has served as a safe space for veterans in need of temporary housing.
"We find that there's some wellness or healing that comes within the community here," said Shea. "They're not on their own, they're not isolated, and so it's helped a lot of people. In fact, I had one gentleman that I did an intake for. He had been living in a tent behind Vons for two years. He walked in the door one day, we just signed the paperwork. He was in a room within an hour.”
Overtime, the center started showing signs of wear and tear.
Frank Joseph Abney Jr., the President and Founder of the Relief Foundation for Veterans learned about the Center, and wanted to help out.
"What we see is that they go above and beyond to help out veterans, and not only veterans, the Desert Hot Springs community in total,” said Abney Jr.
He worked closely with Shea to make sure the center got the quality facelift it needed.
"We're gonna be redoing the floor, taking up some carpet, some paint on the wall," said Abney Jr. "We're also going to be making sure the paints match, do a little bit of landscaping, and some work right there on the roof.”
The renovations were completed through a partnership with The Veterans Relief Foundation, the VFW, and Aha! According to Abney Jr., President of the foundation, the facility had been neglected for years, lacking basic necessities such as functioning air conditioning.
"We have been operating here for three years," said Abney Jr. to News Channel Three. "And we are committed to assisting veterans in any way possible."
More than a dozen volunteers with Aha! came out to help with the renovations.
The event was held at 1:30 p.m. at 13630 Mountain View Road, Desert Hot Springs, 92240.
