Page 7 - PARLIER POST 12-27-17 E-edition

WARMING
Continued from FRONT
felonies to misdemeanors She said there are a lot of inmates being released from jail and many of them don't have a place to go. As a result, they end up being
homeless.
Beltran also said there are
many services for inmates, but once they are released those services no longer are available.
"A lot of the time when you have things like Prop 47 — Yeah, we're out there to make neighborhoods safe, but nothing is happening here. We don't have many services outside," she said.
Beltran said many have no other option but living on the streets.
Beltran also believes Fresno's recent ordinance that bans encampments is pushing their homeless population to other cities.
"I think in order for us to be part of the solution is not to push them out of the community because that's pretty much what Fresno did," she said. "We need to partner up with the Poverello House and partner up with Time in Destiny and see what we can do to help rehabilitate some of these people."
Zavala and members of Time in Destiny will provide the services on a volunteer basis.
"I'm coming to you with the problem and the solution," Zavala addressed council members. "Whatever it is — whether its for the homeless, whether its for recovery, community services, anger management, free rehabilitation — we are here to help."
Zavala, who has provided recovery services to a wide-range of community members for more than 14 years, has run a warming center through his church
in Sanger for more than five years. He currently holds a 501(c)3 — a special nonprofit status — and insurance liability.
"To have a place like this — yes, you're inviting more people but we send them somewhere where they accept them," Zavala said. "We don't just send them anywhere. We're sending them somewhere where they get rehabilitated, they get disciplined, they get back in this society and they contribute into society."
When homeless people come to his center, Zavala said they are offered many services from building a resume, job training to job placement among other things.
Many of those who will be volunteering at Parlier's warming center are Parlier residents.
Zavala said many of them wanted to come back to Parlier and give back to the community. He said volunteering in the warming center is the perfect chance.
The center will open at 7 p.m. and there are rules that must be followed.
"They don't have to be here at 7 p.m., they can come in whenever they want. Everybody is welcomed," Zavala said. "However, they can't bring any alcohol in here and they can't be going in and out whenever they want. Once they come in, they have to stay."
If people do decide to leave, they are not allowed back in for the night.
Zavala said details have yet to be finalized. He said this is only the first step.
"We were in a hurry to open it up because it's cold out there," he said.
Zavala said donations such as blankets and cots are welcomed.
Karla Araujo, who has been a resident of Parlier since 2004, has been homeless for
THE PARLIER POST Page 7 WEDNESDAY December 27, 2017 two years.
She said it is tough to keep warm during the winter.
"We have make sure we have tanks for our stove to warm up," she said. "But sometimes we won't even have that because of our income."
Araujo said recycling and managing her money have helped her get by.
MAP Point
The council also will be considering a partnership with the Poverello House Multi-Agency Access Program — MAP Point — to offer services to the homeless.
The agency already provides services in town every Wednesday.
Sarah Mirhadi, chief programs officer at the Poverello House shared some of the services that may be offered.
Mirhadi said the warming center will give allow the program to reach more homeless people.
"Our goal here is to work with your warming center and your police officers to give the information to the clients so they don't have to keep coming to the center," she said.
Mirhadi said MAP Point's purpose is to link citizens to social services, housing programs, mental health, link them back to their families and to other services they may need.
The program, started in 2015, is funded by Fresno
County.
The lease agreement provides a temporary overnight warming center until March 31, 2018.
To prevent the city from facing any potential liability, the center will only run from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. and will close during the day.
"One of the key components of this agreement that is important to the city is that
Lease terms
Photo Contributed
A group of Parlier residents have gathered to feed the homeless. Community member Leticia Trujillo and other residents said they will continue to assist the homeless with meals.
the individuals who come to the warming center and stay overnight do not vest any legal rights," said City
Attorney Lee Burdick. "They're merely invitees or licensees but they are not occupiers or lessees."
Time in Destiny will pay a single one-time rent for the property — located at 741 1/2 Tulare St. — for one dollar.
More on Community Christmas Party
Here are more photos from Templo Lirio de los Valles' fourth annual Community Christmas Party.
Attendance for the event more than doubled this year. Crosscity Church also hosted a bike repair.
LEFT: Three-year-old Christian Marroquin Jr. won one of the many bikes that were raffled that night.
RIGHT: Many bikes — some donated by the Parlier Police Department — were raffled throughout the night.
Karina Vargas / The Post
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