Spanish Walk residents are asking for more help from the city of Palm Desert

A number of Spanish Walk community members in Palm Desert say they are still struggling to find support weeks after Tropical Storm Hilary severely damaged their homes.

“It is very sad to come in here and see my house the way it is.," said Lydia Duran, Spanish Walk resident.

Lydia Duran's home in Spanish Walk is a shell of what it used to be. Duran's new furniture is now covered in plastic and her wall have been sliced due to flood damage.

“It's painful just to see that it's actually the single story units that are primarily retirees or people who are near retirement. We don't we we don't know what our fate is going to be here.” 

With little help from her HOA, Duran and other neighbors affected by the flood turned to the city of Palm Desert for help.

“They've referred us to the Red Cross to 211…I would have expected the city to look for options for resources and they could have helped us with short term living arrangements. Their website states that they were helping display victims of the storm. If they did, I don't know who they helped because it wasn't us," said Duran.

City of Palm Desert representatives said that until a federal emergency is declared, their ability to help is limited.

“Governor Newsom has requested President Biden to declare Riverside County a disaster area, which would open up potential future programs, which would be key to homeowners," said Chris Escobedo, Assistant City Manager.

Escobedo says they're working on expanding resources within their means in the meantime.

“We're currently in discussions with local banks to see if they have any lending options or home loans to assist these families as well as looking at potential private investment to help these these these neighbors," said Escobedo.

Stay with News Channel 3 for continuing updates.