Are you looking for a cool place this summer to beat the heat? Cathedral City now has daytime and nighttime cooling centers for those in need.
Daytime Cooling Center
The Cathedral City Public Library located at 33520 Date Palm Drive will serve as the official SCE daytime cooling center in Cathedral City. The cooling center at the library is available Monday through Saturday from 10:00 am to 6:00 pm and on Sundays from 1:00 pm to 5:00 pm.
Nighttime Cooling Center
Beginning on Monday, July 1, 2019, from 7 pm to 7 am, those who are looking for a cool place to rest can go to the Community Presbyterian Church located at 38-088 Chuperosa Lane in Cathedral City. Riverside County, Coachella Valley Association of Governments, and the Coachella Valley Rescue Mission have partnered together to provide this service. The temporary nighttime cooling center will operate through September 30th. The site will be managed by the Coachella Valley Rescue Mission, under an operating agreement with the Coachella Valley Association of Governments. Their staff is well trained in, not only service delivery, but security as well.
In addition to providing relief from the extreme heat, these centers will also act as access points to utilize “Housing First” approaches to link those experiencing homelessness with ongoing social services.
Riverside County Supervisor V. Manuel Perez was able to secure $200,000 from the county’s Homeless Emergency Aid Program for the startup costs of the initiative. Additionally, the Desert Healthcare District Foundation has set up a Summer Homeless Survival Fund to solicit donations from the public for operational expenses for the cooling center initiative. Donations can be made online at: Desert Healthcare District’s Summer Homeless Survival Fund. At a recent Foundation Board meeting, the Board of Directors agreed to establish a $50,000 matching fund program for any private donations received.
This collaborative effort is part of a larger, regional initiative already underway among the county/cities of the Coachella Valley Association of Governments, in partnership with nonprofit and faith-based organizations to assist residents experiencing homelessness throughout the Coachella Valley. If you have any questions, please contact Greg Rodriguez via email at grodrigu@rivco.org.
