Banning homeless camp: New ‘Opportunity Village’ in the works

In Banning, a new emergency shelter, across the street from a homeless encampment, is in the works.

Many of you have seen it heading east into the Valley on Interstate 10.

“This is a huge social issue and it's not just in this town or in this state, it's national. And it doesn't have to be that way,” said Site Coordinator Ramon Ruiz.

Just off the Hargrave Street exit, pallet shelters line the road to temporarily house people from the encampment across the street. “Walking through the encampment, talking with individuals, reaching out to those individuals who might be interested in and helping them,” said Banning City Manager Doug Schulze.

The new site will be able to accommodate 40 people, who can stay for up to 90 days at a time.

“They’re really only going to be able to house 40 people. But I mean, those 40 hopefully we can get the transitioned into the next step- whatever that is for them," Ruiz added.

Each pallet shelter has 2 foldable beds, along with air conditioning and electricity. “It's not meant to be a living quarters, it's it's meant to be a sleeping quarters and a safe place to keep personal belongings,” Schulze explained.

There's also showers, a laundry room and bathroom for the community to use. There will be an office coordinator on-site full time, along with 24/7 security.

It will not be a shelter for families, but for adults who are looking to move on after the 90 days are up. “Really the goal is to get them in a situation where they're employed or they're receiving benefits that they're eligible for, so that they can move into more permanent housing," Schulze explained, "And allow a bed to be vacant for someone else.”

The city will be working with the local agencies to provide job help, along with drug and alcohol behavioral services.

“We have gotten a lot of support from the local agencies, the you know, the clergy, all that type of things. And so as long as we can continue that kind of support it I think we're going to have a lot of success,” Ruiz said.

The City is in the process of going through the applications for the shelter.

The Opportunity Village is almost complete, with a few more additions coming in the next few weeks.

The city is hoping to have everyone moved in by the end of the month.