65 New Beds Help Keep a Community Warm

In fortunate timing 65 new shelter beds opened to serve Riverside county before the cold, rainy weather from recent storms made life even more difficult for many local homeless people. The additional shelter beds for homeless adults opened in Riverside on Dec. 1 and will be available every day through April 15. The addition increases the number of shelter beds in Riverside from 64 to 129. The temporary shelter beds will be available at the Path of Life Ministries’ Homeless Shelter at 2840 Hulen Place in Riverside as part of the Emergency Cold Weather Shelter Program. It is funded by the county and the city, as well as Path of Life Ministries and their private partners. The emergency beds will be available regardless of the weather. Check-in/intake for the beds is from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. each day and people seeking shelter are encouraged to arrive between 3:30 p.m. and 4 p.m. Beds are given on a first-come, first-served basis. In addition to a safe and warm place to sleep, shelter guests are offered an evening hot meal, breakfast in the morning and shower facilities. Additional referrals to community resources and other assistance is also will be available. Path of Life Ministries also operates a 50-bed family shelter and offers coaching and referral services to assist with basic needs, housing, employment and other goals contributing to the families’ long-term stability. A count conducted in January 2013 by the County of Riverside Department of Public Social Services revealed that on any given night, about 2,098 homeless people are living in Riverside County. For more information about the Emergency Cold Weather Shelter Program, please call Path of Life Ministries at 951-683-4101.