City officials say the facility has helped people find housing and jobs, but police and neighbors worry Palm Springs is becoming a magnet for the region’s unhoused.
The $45 million development, which had its ribbon cutting Thursday, features floor-to-ceiling windows and sophisticated finishes, proving that beautiful architecture isn't just for the wealthy.
Palm Springs recorded a dramatic drop in street homelessness during this year's Point in Time Count, but some operational issues at a pair of service centers persist, the Human Rights Commission was told.
Numbers from a one-day point-in-time count in January show a second consecutive year of declining growth rates and a 19% drop in unsheltered individuals across all of Riverside County.
Well in the Desert previously received financial support from the city, but the relationship between elected officials and the nonprofit began deteriorating five years ago, leading to a breakup of sorts in 2021.
City officials who spoke Thursday evening reported full occupancy for some portions of the facility while police cited a decrease in visible homelessness.
Providing a safe space for people experiencing hardship to do laundry is not charity, organizers stress, but a chance to walk alongside their brothers and sisters in the Coachella Valley.
The clinics, which debuted Wednesday, will provide primary care, mental health services, pharmacology, and referrals to brick-and-mortar clinics in the city when necessary.
The effort conducted Wednesday morning was part of a countywide initiative to record the number of people living on the streets at one moment in time. The results will be released later this year.
The project, which has been in development and planning for seven years, will offer low barrier transitional housing with critical 'wrap around services' such as mental health support and job training.
The ordinance makes it a violation to set up an encampment or sleep anywhere on public property in the city. However, it comes with several caveats for Palm Springs police officers when enforcing the rules.
While the facility is already operational, construction is ongoing. Workers are finishing 85 modular units and completing landscaping. It's expected to be fully open sometime in August or September.
