First group graduates from the Indio Community Outreach Resource Program
It’s officially graduation season. The time for seniors to take that monumental walk across the stage and receive their diploma.
But one ceremony in Indio Friday was a bit different from your typical graduation.
Marcos Rangel worked as a welder before his life took a dramatic turn for the worse.
“I found myself in some bad places in my life and homelessness is one of those things and being laid off. My life spiraled down, and I found myself in a pit, and I’m just trying to climb my way out,” Rengal said.
With the help of the Indio police department’s Community Outreach Resource Program (CORP), he’s doing just that.
Rangel and 11 other program members became the first class to graduate from the CORP program.
The program grew out of the need to find a long term solution to the homelessness problem in the community
“What we’ve learned is there’s a defeating process that occurs when we issue a ticket to someone who is not employed. It’s a $75 ticket, they don’t appear in court. Now, it is a $375 citation. So what we know is that arrest and book strategy does not work with this population,” Indio Police Chief Richard Twiss said.
The program made up of county and community groups worked together to help those who need it.
CORP helps individuals resolve low level pending crimes and integrate back into society.
Friday was also an opportunity for community members to find out about the resources available to them. Coachella Valley Rescue Mission was there passing out toiletry bags and sleeping bags to those who need them.
After completing the months long program, Rengal said he’s just taking it one step at a time.
“Just very small goals, just maintaining sobriety and finding a place to live and work,” Rengal said.
Since 2013, the city of Indio has seen a 64 percent reduction in homelessness.
Twiss said there already is another group of individuals going through the second CORP program.
They’re expected to graduate within the next few months.
