The Riverside County Board of Supervisors Tuesday approved the use of $5.7 million for the Palm Springs Navigation Center, which aims to address the city’s homelessness issue.
The funds will be used for the acquisition of the center’s campus. According to Supervisor Manuel Perez’s office, he will seek more funding from the county for renovation and development of the campus, for an ultimate total of $7 million.
The campus will be designed to address the homelessness issue facing Palm Springs through a “solution-oriented approach,” and is being developed by the city in partnership with Riverside County, officials said. The campus will provide housing and comprehensive services for the homeless.
“In this instance federal funding and county cooperation allows us to build in Palm Springs a center of housing, rehabilitation and recovery that will move people permanently from our streets to their new homes,” Palm Springs Mayor Lisa Middleton said.
“For our residents, businesses, visitors and for those living on our streets it is a time for action. The Palm Springs Navigation Center is a concrete action step that will make a difference in our community. We thank Supervisor Perez and our partners at the county of Riverside in making a difference,” Middleton added.
The Palm Springs City Council is looking to locate the facility at a 47,000-square-foot building at 3589 McCarthy Road. According to The Desert Sun, residents in the nearby Desert Highland Gateway Estates neighborhood oppose the location, citing concerns that the center will impact the community’s quality of life.
The council will vote on the acquisition and funding of the site on Thursday, according to city spokeswoman Amy Blaisdell.