Food bank relocating, businesses hope for less homeless in area
Christine Alemen has owned “You Dirty Dog” in Palm Desert for nearly 19 years and as steadily seen the homeless population grow on San Pablo street.
“There was a few homeless people, but as time goes on, there’s a lot more now,” said Aleman.
A neighboring business, St. Margaret’s Outreach Center, has been in Palm Desert for roughly seven years providing food, clothing, and other services to the less -than-fortunate. But according to a letter posted on their door, they won’t be on San Pablo for very much longer.
The letter states the center will be closing permanently on June 23rd because a variety of reasons, mainly a cost-effective move to relocate on the church’s main campus.
Lane Hensley, the rector at St. Margaret’s Episcopal Church, said businesses have voiced their concerns in the past about the food and clothing shelter bringing more of a homeless presence to the area. People like Aleman have complained about the loitering, littering, and other issues the homeless presents. But the reasoning for the move is strictly because it makes more sense financially for the church.
“I think it’s going to be a big improvement because it allows us to manage our own facility a lot better and to be a lot more aware of what’s going on and a lot more responsive to what’s going on when there are problems,” said Hensley. “And it means that the church will be in the business of being church and being of service to God’s people.”
Hensley admitted the word ‘closing’ may not have been the right word when shutting down the San Pablo location, but plans on the new service on the church campus to be open sometime in July.
Meanwhile, businesses on San Pablo can only hope things will get better now that a food and clothing bank won’t be right next door.
“I hope it makes a difference because otherwise I don’t know what the city’s going to do about it,” Aleman explained. “I don’t know if we’re going to stay around if it gets any worse. I mean, who wants to clean up fecal matter and trash?”
