Homeless expert speaks to CVAG committee

Local city, county, and tribal leaders received an update on the valley’s efforts to combat homelessness, courtesy of a nationally-recognized expert.

Barbara Poppe addressed the Coachella Valle Association of Government’s (CVAG) homelessness committee, noting that progress is being made locally.

“We are not trying to build shelters that are fixing people,” said Poppe. “We are trying to build shelters that get people inside and quickly reconnect them to housing.”

The homeless rate has dropped slightly in the valley since 2015.

Poppe said that there simply is not enough affordable housing locally to combat the problem and that communities across the area need to combine efforts to allot more funds and step up efforts on that front.