Well in the Desert, a nonprofit organization focused on providing meals and other essential services to people experiencing homelessness and food insecurity throughout Palm Springs, has until late May to vacate one of its locations after the property’s owner, Grit Development, served the nonprofit with a 30-day eviction notice to lay the groundwork for a new fire station.
“Well in the Desert has been given a 30-day notice to vacate our food bank location by Grit Development, as the city moves forward with plans for a new fire station. This property had been a home to the Well for 16 years,” Matt Naylor, president of the nonprofit, said in a statement to City News Service on Wednesday.
“Moving is not the issue. The issue is the short timeline and the impact this will have on the people we serve,” Naylor added.
The site, located at 181 N. Indian Canyon Drive, serves roughly 250 families every week and members of the homeless population, and houses food storage and meal operations. Finding a new location will require time, which the organization said it does not have.
“We are deeply disappointed that this notice was given without a more thoughtful transition plan. A new fire station takes time to design, approve, permit and build. We do not understand why common ground could not have been found to protect the families and individuals who rely on these services,” Naylor said.
Palm Springs spokeswoman Amy Blaisdell said it was “a matter between the property owner and the tenant. The city of Palm Springs is hopeful and optimistic that a new location will be found for Well in the Desert.”