Rescue Mission helps homeless during record heat
The Coachella Valley has hit a high of 122 degrees four times over the past two and a half weeks and there are hundreds of people living in the elements.
“I wouldn’t chalk it up to being real fun,” said Catherine, who did not want to provide her last name but said she has been homeless for 10 years. “It’s kind of hard with the flies and the heat. It gets pretty hot out here. You have to be tough to be out on the street.”
Helping to ease the situation for the homeless is the Coachella Valley Rescue Mission.
“I’ve seen a lot of heat and people just burnt from the heat,” Adam Lackey, who is a client at the mission, told KESQ News Channel 3’s and CBS Local 2’s Katie Widner. “Drained: emotionally, physically, mentally.”
“They have to cover themselves from all of the flies and bugs that are around them. There is obviously no clean water to drink or anywhere to sleep. They’re living on rocks and on dirt so the conditions are very, very poor,” said CVRM case manager Ivan Tenorio.
The ’90 days of Summer’ homeless relief program is in full force, handing out water, snacks and toiletries to those living in the east valley. Tenorio said that on a really busy day, they can come into contact with roughly 100 people.
“About, maybe, a couple of weeks ago we got at least 13 people to come back to the mission,” he added.
The Mission offers a safe place to sleep, showers and clean clothes, but it wouldn’t be possible without the staff and volunteers. For more information on how to get involved, click here.
