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Imperial County homeless shelters struggle to offer beds amid the pandemic

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December 21, 2020 6:56 PM
Published 1:23 PM

EL CENTRO, Calif. (KYMA, KECY) - As temperatures continue to fall in Imperial County, local shelters are struggling to house the homeless population.

The main reason they're having this issue is because of the coronavirus has forced homeless shelters to limit the number of beds they can offer. "Homeless services have had to become reactive, throughout the virus. Last year we were focusing on prevention and long-term solutions now we're just reacting to the pandemic," said United Way Executive Director Ken Wuyten.

As COVID-19 hit, nearly 1,200 homeless residents in Imperial County were reported to be without temporary or emergency housing.

Wuyten says the immediate motel housing is ending this month. It's where some homeless people have been living, to have a roof over their head and protect themselves from the cold weather.

 

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Gianella Ghiglino

Peruvian-born and LA raised Gianella Ghiglino joins the team from the San Fernando valley. “LA is the place that taught me how to breath and Peru is my breath.” She says she was inspired by the community she grew up in and began documenting her experience through poetry at the age of 7. “I wrote about everything I saw, felt and everything that inspired me.” When she entered High School she joined her school news station and realized that broadcast journalism allowed her to pursue her passion and her purpose all at once. Gianella attended Cal State Northridge and received a Bachelors degree in Broadcast Journalism and a minor in Spanish Broadcast Journalism, and Political Science. She did several internships while in College but most notably interned for PBS’s local LA station for three years. “My purpose is to share my story and of those in my community, my passion is writing.”

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