In an effort to confront senior citizen homelessness, Cathedral City and its partners recently marked the reopening of Cathedral Palms Senior Apartments, according to a news release from the the city.
National CORE and Riverside County, as well as the city and its partners, had worked together on the senior housing project, an endeavor that has spanned three decades but was celebrated at the reopening, April 5, the release said.
The long-awaited project provides 224 high-quality and affordable apartments for seniors, who earn less than 60% of area median income, the city said. In recognition of the ongoing California housing crisis, there are 68 new apartments reserved for those without proper shelter of their own.
Residents of the apartment complex will have the benefit of a new community center, with support services, to facilitate their independent living as well, the release said.
“The reopening of Cathedral Palms Senior Apartments is a great moment for Cathedral City and will be a key asset when it comes to combatting homelessness in our community," Cathedral City Mayor Rita Lamb said in the release.
"These renovated, affordable apartment homes will significantly reduce the burden for low-income and unhoused seniors, and we’re grateful for the continued commitment on this issue by our partners at National CORE and the County of Riverside,” she added.
According to the release, homelessness in the Coachella Valley is already at crisis proportions and is expected to triple by 2030.
"The reopening comes at a time when housing in the area continues to be in great need," said Rosalind Ross, vice president of community development banding at Chase. "We know these homes will be an indispensable asset for the community, transforming the lives of seniors with the addition of onsite supportive services.”
When Cathedral Palms landed in the hands of National CORE in 1996, the vision was to be sustainable well into the future, National CORE vice president of acquisitions Tony Mize said.
Despite National CORE's intentions, renovation plans continued to be held back by limited revenue opportunities in 2012, the release said, but the dream received a significant boost in 2019 when Riverside County reaped $7.7 million from the state of California's No Place Like Home program.
Throughout the years, additional partners have embraced National CORE's goal, including Riverside University Health Systems, JPMorgan Chase and Red Stone Equity Partners, the release said.