Palm Springs is trying to help solve the Coachella Valley’s homeless problem.
With $75,000 from its general fund, the city has established a day program that will help homeless people learn job skills, find employment and obtain housing assistance, according to a statement.
The program, which began Wednesday, was started by city council members Ginny Foat and Geoff Kors and the city’s Homeless Task Force, said Amy Blaisdell, city spokeswoman.
The plan is to run the program for about four months. After that, if it appears to have long-term potential, the city will make it permanent.
“For now it’s kind of a pilot program,” Blaisdell said. “This is definitely an issue the people of Palm Springs want the city to address.”
The program is being held from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday at Roy’s Desert Resource Center, 19531 McLane St.
“The City of Palm Springs is committed to fighting the problem of homelessness in our city,” Foat said in the statement. “Although the Task Force understands that this approach will not solve our homeless issue entirely, it’s our hope that it will significantly impact the part of the homeless population that is searching for that hand up.”