Homeless Relocated To Opportunity Village, Banning Encampment Cleanup

BANNING, CA — Many hands made light work of the extensive homeless encampment cleanup from July, according to the Banning Police Department. The encampment, located in the 100 block of West Bryant Street— populated by over 50 homeless people— was cleared out with 40 taken to Opportunity Village.

The Opportunity Village temporary housing facility is located right off Interstate 10 in Banning at the Hargrave Street exit. Site Coordinator Ramon Ruiz discussed the new village with KESQ about how the location offers resources necessary for homeless residentsto get back on their feet, according to a spokesperson from the Banning Police Department.

Opportunity Village is a sanctioned 90-day program that assists homeless residents to better their living situations, and can house approximately 40 residents at a time, according to officials.

The Pallet Home units are 64 square feet and built for double occupancy. The tiny homes are durable, insulated, and "a proven stepping stone to permanent housing," according to the builder's website.structure with 2-person folding beds, air conditioning and electricity. There is a separate shower, laundry and bathroom structure for the community, along with 24/7 security for all. This is not a shelter for families, but adults who want to improve their path away from homelessness, according to Ramon Ruiz, the Site Coordinator for the project.

Pallet homes are built in Washington State, and brought out in pieces to be built onsite on pre-poured foundations.

Similar shelters in the area include the Valley Restart shelter in Hemet, which recently added six pallet homes for adults looking to journey back toward self-sufficiency.

Related: Tiny Houses For Homeless Coming To Riverside County

The Banning Homeless Site Coordinator is working closely with the Opportunity Village staff to improve lives. All new residents must demonstrate improvement and effort on their part in order to remain at the village. All residents were interviewed in an application process before being moved into the village, according to Ruiz.

"Additionally, those who did not qualify to be relocated to Opportunity Village were offered relocation resources and services," a spokesperson for the Banning Police Department wrote in a recent press release. "Social workers and volunteers were able to help place six additional transients into other shelters in the county, as well as connect many others to housing resources."

The City of Banning Streets Department is working to clean up and dispose of the remaining abandoned items left behind during the relocation effort.

Read also: Tiny Houses For Homeless Coming To Riverside County