Early Entry Facility at new Palm Springs Navigation Center opens 50 overnight beds

The early entry facility at the new Palm Springs Navigation Center is hosting its ribbon-cutting ceremony today at 11:00 a.m.

The space is fully operated by Martha’s Village and Kitchen.

The event will include remarks from the project’s leaders, including Palm Springs Mayor Jeffrey Bernstein, Chief of Police Andrew Mills, and COO of Martha’s Village and Kitchen Rosa Verduzco.

Following the ribbon-cutting ceremony, community members are welcome to tour the facility.

Currently, the Navigation Center is only operating its early entry facility, which includes 50 overnight beds.

Those bed spaces opened last week.

Once additional space in the Navigation Center opens during the summer, 80 residential interim units will be available. The units will include kitchenettes and bathroom facilities.

Five of the units are designed for families, and ten units are for youth experiencing homelessness.

There will also be a park and a children’s play area.

The Navigation Center will also provide residents with comprehensive wraparound services.

“It’s been a long process. It’s been quite a while since the city and county first purchased a property and came up with plans for a navigation center,” said Sam Hollenback, CEO of Martha’s Village and Kitchen. “[There have been] bumps in the road, cost increases, but we’ve made it, and we’re happy it’s open!”

Housing in the facility is by referral only from the Palm Springs Access Center.

Hollenback says the process is simple.

“You’re going to go to the access center over by the airport. You’re going to check-in; if there are beds available, you’ll be assigned a bed. Then, we will bring a van over each day and bring you over. We will give you dinner, give you breakfast, let you get some sleep in between, and then take you back to the access center for your day.”