The best way to reduce homelessness is to prevent it in the first place. Preventing homelessness makes sense from social and economic perspectives. Keeping a family or individual in their home is usually the best case scenario. It means that community members are able to retain their jobs, family units stay together, and people remain safer. At Martha’s Village & Kitchen, we are known for helping to house those who find themselves homeless, but we also do much to help to prevent people from becoming homeless in the first place!
Community Resources
At Martha’s Village & Kitchen, we have several community resources that help people stay housed. Importantly, we provide many ways for people to save money, so they have more funds available for housing expenses.
Food
We offer a free lunch 5 days a week to anyone who needs it. By eating at MVK, those who are struggling with financial stability can save money and decrease their food costs. Public lunch is served from 11:00 AM to 12:00 PM, Monday through Friday. Also, we distribute food from our Emergency Food Pantry, Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM. Individuals and families can access this pantry once a month to receive several days worth of food. This helps people to save on expenses which also helps those who are struggling to stay housed. The free lunch and Emergency Pantry services provided by MVK help Seniors, children, families, individuals, and even college students!
Thrift Store
Martha’s also has a Thrift Store which serves as another community resource and an aid to preventing homelessness. Oftentimes, clothing is an expense that cannot be afforded. People are in need clothing for their jobs or for school. Our Thrift Store offers clothing, furniture, housewares, appliances, books, purses, shoes, and much more at ultra-low prices. Being able to shop for quality items at our Thrift Store makes a difference in the lives of those who live paycheck to paycheck or in poverty. By shopping at the MVK Thrift Store, people are able to maximize their budgets and stay housed.
Martha’s Village Store Information:
Call any time: 760-775-6060
Call for pickups: 760-775-6060 opt. 1
Send an email to info@marthasvillage.org
To donate your car 1-800-677-1744
Store Hours:
Monday-Saturday
9 AM to 6 PM
Martha’s Village Thrift Store
45-596 Fargo Street
Indio, CA 92201
Child Development Center
Another community resource that helps with preventing homelessness is our Child Development Center. Working parents need childcare, and care for children is extremely expensive! Our licensed Child Development Center offers high-quality care for children ages zero through five years of age. The facility and its playground offer a stimulating, safe and nurturing atmosphere for children, while their parents take the opportunity to take important steps towards the families’ self-sufficiency.
Resource Room
Martha’s Resource Room is open to the public. It includes a computer bank for job and housing searches and a phone bank. In addition, we post current job listings and share information on other community resources that will help those in need. Additionally, we offer income tax help through a partnership with Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA). During the extreme summer heat, we host a cooling center in collaboration with Community Action Partnership.
Medical Clinic
Health to Hope Clinics is dedicated to serving homeless and vulnerable individuals and families in Riverside County. H2H strongly believes that low-income and homeless individuals have the right to health and social services, which, in addition to treatment and care, focus on empowerment and enhancing each individual’s capacity to understand and manage his/her health needs. A Health to Hope Clinic is located inside of Martha’s Village & Kitchen.
Health to Hope Hours of Operation
Showers
Martha’s Village & Kitchen opens its doors for shower services to the community. It is important to maintain good health and practice good hygiene. These services help to prevent homelessness in that they allow people to save on water and gas costs. The money saved can be put towards housing costs. MVK’s Shower Services are available at the following times:
Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 9:00 AM – 11:00 AM
Men’s showers begin at 9:00 AM & 9:30 AM
Women & children’s showers begin at 10:00 AM
More Resources
We offer several other services that save people money throughout the year. MVK provides some of these services directly, and other are provided through our partnerships and collaborative efforts. We offer assistance with Identification Cards and Birth Certificates. Also, depending on funding and availability, utility and rental assistance.
Please stop by and see us! In short, the community is encouraged to use these important resources. If you have questions, please call 760-347-4741.
If you would like to VOLUNTEER in the Resource Room or in any other area at Martha’s Village & Kitchen, please reach out to Erica. Her email address is: ESiqueiros@marthasvillage.org.