The Community Open House and Ribbon-Cutting ceremony to celebrate the opening of the Early Entry facility at the Palm Springs Homeless Navigation Center is scheduled for Tuesday, March 12, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at 3589 McCarthy Road. The event will mark the official beginning of the facility, which is operated by Martha’s Village and Kitchen.
Among the leaders who will be speaking at the event are Mayor Jeffrey Bernstein, Greg Rodriguez from Riverside County Housing & Workforce Solutions, Rosa Verduzco from Martha’s Village and Kitchen, Andrew Mills, the Palm Springs Chief of Police, and Alice Kimm, the Project Architect.
The new Early Entry facility, managed by Martha’s Village and Kitchen, accommodates up to 50 residents who are waiting to be placed in independent modular units when they are available. It is important to note that this facility is not for drop-in visits and access is only granted through referral from the Palm Springs Access Center.
After the ribbon-cutting ceremony, community members are welcome to take tours of the facility with staff. Tours in Spanish will also be available for the Latino community.
Intake for the Early Entry Facility is conducted at the Access Center located at 225 El Cielo, with check-ins starting at 8 a.m. For further information, individuals can contact the Access Center at 760-424-8438.
Once fully operational later in the summer, the Navigation Center will feature 80 prefabricated residential interim units, including kitchenettes and bathroom facilities. Out of these, 65 units will be for unhoused residents, five for families, and an extra 10 units for transitional-aged youth experiencing homelessness. Additionally, the center will offer amenities such as a children’s play area, green space, and a dog park.
Unhoused residents accessing the Navigation Center will also benefit from comprehensive wraparound services. More details can be found at EngagePalmSprings.com.