From Arlene Rosenthal

August 30, 2020

It is only 8:08 a.m. on a Sunday morning and I have already received three calls for the Well in the Desert, one from a man who just became homeless, where can he find refuge at night, one from a father of two, the family homeless, and one from a homeless senior woman. Where can they go to find somewhere to live?
I spoke with each one calmly telling them what was available and trying to be as compassionate as is needed with all in very challenging conditions.
Services for people without an indoor home are available, though limited.
During the day people can use the cooling center at the Well, at 441 S. Calle Encilia for cooling, snacks, cold drinks, showers, clothes and the food donated by others so no one goes without over the weekend.
They can also access Martha’s Village and Kitchen in their satellite office in our building. They offer a myriad of services.
For the night sleeping services are offered at 3 locations provided by the Coachella Valley Rescue Mission. The location in Palm Springs is at the United Methodist Church, on Sunrise and Alejo, with 31 cots. The one in Cathedral City is at the Elks Lodge, with 50 spots. There is one on Estrella in D.H.S, not sure of how many they can take. The County/CVAG provide funding for that. All three provide showers, and snacks.
While not perfect, it is a lot more than ever before.
Daily I see the faces of good people, many mentally challenged, many still hopeful, all very hungry, eating the wonderful meal our cooks provide. There are times I cry, and there are times we laugh together over something quite silly. They are me, and they are you. They are men, women, and children. They are gay, straight, black, brown, white, old, young, all hoping for a better life. They have lost jobs, homes. There are those who are addicted, many of whom are desperate to break their habits.
You can help by sharing with friends those things available to our homeless clients. You can be someone who lets homeless people know where they can go and what is available to them.