M Street Navigation Center

M Street Navigation Center Update

DOWNTOWN BAKERSFIELD TO PROVIDESHELTER FOR THEHOMELESS.THE NAVIGATION CENTER LOCATED ONM STREET HAS BEEN OPEN SINCEMAY.

BUT IN THE PAST COUPLE OFMONTHS, RESTRICTIONS HAVECHANGED DUE TO COVID-19.23ABC'S BAYNE FRONEY IS JOININGUS LIVE FROM CENTRALBAKERSFIELD -- TO TELL US HOWTHE HOW THINGS HAVE BEEN GOINGANDHOW THE CENTER IS ADJUSTING WITHTHE PANDEMIC.

BAYNE.THIS SHELTER IS DESIGNED TO BE A24 HOUR FACILITY THAT PROVIDESBEDS, MEALS, MEDICAL ASSISTANCEAND MORE..JUSTAFTER 2 MONTHS, OFFICIALS SAYTHE CENTER HAS BEEN ABLE TOHELP THE HOMELESS POPULATION INCOUNTLESS WAYS."WE'RE A FAMILY HERE."RUDY VENTURA IS A RESIDENT AT MSTREET NAVIGATIONCENTER.

BUT 2 MONTHS AGO, HE WASLIVING OUT OF HIS CAR."IT'S NOT GOOD, NOT ONLY IS ITHARD TOSURVIVE, BUT THE WAY THAT WE AREMADE TO FEEL BY THE REST OFSOCIETY, NOTPOINTING ANY FINGERS, BUT WEWANT TO COME OUT OF THIS FEELINGFULLY FUNCTIONAL."THE MAIN GOAL FOR THE CENTER ISTO FIND PERMANENT HOUSING FORTHEIR RESIDENTS..THE CENTERUTILIZESTHE HELP OF FLOOD BAKERSFIELDMINISTRIES WHOIDENTIFY THE HOMELESSINDIVIDUALS THAT THEY DEEM ATRISK AND WOULD BENEFIT FROM ASHELTER."WE WANT TO GET THEM OUT OF THEHEAT, OUT OF THE ELEMENTS, OUTOF THE SITUATION THAT THEY'REIN, AND GETTHEM INTO A STABLE SITUATIONLIKE THE M STREET NAVIGATIONCENTER."THE CENTER GIVES RESIDENTSACCESS TO MENTAL HEALTHSERVICES, SUBSTANCE ABUSESERVICES, OR EMPLOYMENTTRAINING..

BUT COVID-19 HASCAUSED THE CENTER TODOWNSIZE FROM 150 RESIDENTS TO50"SO THAT WE CAN SOCIAL DISTANCE,ANDAS WE ARE DOING OUR INTAKEPROCESS, WE ARE ACTUALLY DOINGOUR COVID SCREENING AS WELL.BUT OFFICIALS SAY THAT WON'TSTOP THE CENTER FROM ACCEPTINGAND HELPING THE HOMELESSPOPULATION."I THINK THAT THE MOSTBENEFICIALPART IS THAT WE ARE OPEN ANDTHAT WE ARE ACCEPTING HOMELESSINDIVIDUALS AND TRYING TOPROVIDE SHELTER AND SAFETY TOGET THEM OFF OFTHE STREETS SO THAT THEY'RESAFE."THE CENTER IS DETERMINED TO KEEPHELPING THOSE THAT THEYCAN, AND HELP RESIDENTS, LIKERUDY, SET GOALS FOR THEIRFUTURES."TO GET HOUSING AND PROBABLYREGAINRELATIONSHIPS THAT I HAD LET GOIN THE PAST."IF YOU WANT TO HELP OUT THENAVIGATION CENTER, BYDONATING OR VOLUNTEERING, YOUCAN HEAD TO OUR WEBSITE,TURNTO23.COM AND THERE WILL BE ALINK FOR YOU THERE.

INBAKERSFIELD, BAYNE FRONEY,23ABC, CONNECTING YOU.