Victor Valley Community Warming Shelter Requesting the Public's Assistance

VICTORVILLE – Several representatives from Victor Valley area nonprofit organizations serving the homeless met on Monday morning at the Victor Valley Rescue Mission located on 7th Street in Downtown Victorville to discuss the 2017-2018, Warming Shelter. The meeting began at 10:00 a.m. with a room full of people eager to learn information about the warming shelter and when it will be opened. Victor Valley Rescue Mission Executive Director Bill Edwards opened up the discussion explaining how and why the warming shelter opened.

The warming shelter opening was prompted by the tragic loss of a homeless man who died as a result of the freezing overnight temperatures. The community reacted with a barrage of emotions, some being anger, frustrations and for some expressing a deep sadness. So many wondered how something like this can even occur. Without enough viable options, the community, as well as local government, knew if something was not done, a senseless death like that could and likely would occur again. The Warming Shelter first opened as a community collaborative, but eventually, as years passed became the responsibility of the Victor Valley Rescue Mission.

Although the Victor Valley Rescue Mission along with volunteers made it happen each year, the financial and other responsibilities took too much of their focus off of their particular mission. This year, Edwards reached out to High Desert Homeless Services to team up to provide this much-needed service. These discussions took place as High Desert Homeless Services Executive Director Jimmy Waldron and Edwards worked hard on attempting to weigh all the options. After doing so, they found an option, which will work immediately but will cost more and require more volunteers compared to previous years.

High Desert Church (HDC) has stepped forward with a $2500 donation, but approximately $7900 will be needed just to open. The full cost should be approximately $30,000 for the approximately 4 months the shelter will remain open. Edwards said that the cost could be reduced if the owner of a permanent structure would be willing to donate the space or even reasonably rent the space. The space needed would be approximately 3000 square feet, in order to shelter approximately 75 people during the hours of 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m. The shelter will also, in addition to funds, require Cup-O-Soups, individually packaged oatmeal, coffee, tea, hot cocoa, sugar, creamer, microwave popcorn, and/or other quick snacks.

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Anyone would like to help can contact the Victor Valley Community Warming ShelterFacebook page or call Jimmy Waldron at (760)245-5991. A donation link will be added to the Facebook page or donations can be sent to High Desert Homeless Services 14049 Amargosa Road Victorville, California 92392, make sure to include a note or on the memo of a check/money order that the donation is for the Warming Shelter.