Desert Hot Springs community members rally to help displaced family

A Desert Hot Springs family is homeless Wednesday after a fire destroyed their mobile home Sunday night.

The fire broke out underneath their mobile home destroying everything in its wake.

But with the help of community members, the Gonzales family is working to get back on their feet.

“My heart just goes all the way to them and I adopted the family. I’ve been going around and collecting clothes. People drop it off at my house people drop it off I bring it here, community leader Donna Poyuzina said.

So far, the community has raised $1,000 for the family.

The Red Cross and the Desert Hot Springs Spa have worked together to put them up while they get things figured out.

“It’s become really urgent for people to step up and do the support for them because there’s not really a lot of options for them right now,” said Desert Hot Springs Spa General Manager Reggie Bickford.

The spa is also accepting donations of clothes and other essential items.

While the cause of the fire is still under investigation neighbors said the family does not want to go back to living in those substandard conditions.

Neighbors said the property is more than 50 years old with some homes lacking running water.

“We have a couple of places right now that we think would be comfortable for them to live in but I want them to see it first. And we have people that have really beautiful things to give, to go into that home, but we can’t bring it in yet until we have the home,” Poyuzina said.

Much of the help has come from the Desert Hot Springs Neighborhood group on Facebook.

Some people have even offered the family part time employment while they continue to get things figured out.

Poyuzina said she won’t stop until she finds a suitable place for them to live.

The number for the Desert Hot Springs is (760)-215-6000

Poyuzina is still collecting donations her number is (760) 580-5352