El Centro City Council tackles homelessness
EL CENTRO, Calif. (KYMA, KECY) - The Imperial Valley Continuum Care re-allocated funds to expand Catholic Charities facility to build a day shelter for the homeless.
Since the pandemic started, nearly 1,200 homeless residents in Imperial County were without temporary or emergency housing.
"There's only an overnight shelter for men in Calexico. We need an overnight shelter here in El Centro," said Lisa Winkler, a homeless advocate.
“The long-term goal is to also bring wrap-around services and I don’t know if there is enough space in that facility to also start a night shelter but I know that is something that has gravely been needed in El Centro," said Sylvia Marroquin, Council Member.
Councilman Oliva explained why it’s important to have a family shelter.
“I have met couples, who are homeless and prefer to be homeless and be on the streets together because they can protect each other together, the lack of shelter services for both of them to be together and sheltered right because in order to be sheltered they would have to be separate,” said Tomas Oliva, Council Member.
Homeless advocate Lisa Winkler also discussed how rehabilitation centers are essential to reducing homelessness.
“We are right around the border with Mexico, Heroin is out of control here in the valley and there is no rehab facility here in El Centro or in Imperial Valley that provides medication during detox,” said Lisa Winkler, Homeless Advocate.
