Homelessness Services in Cat City Up for Debate

Financial Services Director Recommends Supporting Program Addressing Regional Homelessness

CATHEDRAL CITY —To what degree does the City Council support homelessness services in the community? Residents will find out Wednesday when Councilors consider approving an agreement with the Coachella Valley Association of Governments to provide $125,000/year for the next three fiscal years, to support the CV Housing First program, which addresses regional homelessness.

Seems inflation has hit homelessness services.

Cathedral City has participated as a funding partner in the program, along with all the other Coachella Valley cities, since the program’s inception in 2017. The City of Cathedral City has contributed $100,000 to the CV Housing First program since Fiscal Year 2021-2022, according to Kevin Biersack, Financial Services Director.

The CVAG Executive Committee on Dec. 2, 2025 (sic) authorized the Executive Director to execute memorandums of understanding (MOUs) with member jurisdictions to increase the CV Housing First contribution to $125,000 in Fiscal Year 2025-26 and provide for annual inflation adjustments that are reviewed by the Homelessness Committee. The Executive Committee also asked for further review of this issue by CVAG’s Finance Committee.

Identical MOU agreements are being circulated to all participating member agencies for approval by their respective governing bodies.

In his staff report to the City Council, Biersack writes that CVAG has overseen the CV Housing First program since 2017, which has proven successful in helping homeless individuals and families across the Coachella Valley. In 2021, CVAG transitioned to an in-house program. This change has already brought about increased responsiveness and capacity in the Coachella Valley, particularly as it pertains to assisting local law enforcement and public health workers with homeless services. The transition to an in-house program has also given CVAG an opportunity to focus its efforts on clients who might not be able to get help elsewhere.

The CV Housing First uses two primary methods to provide clients with housing solutions: rapid resolution and crisis stabilization units, Biersack writes. Rapid resolution is an urgent, cost saving solution staff uses to help overcome the barriers that keep people from getting housing. This could include options such as helping them secure their identifying paperwork, which then can help them qualify for benefits. It also includes sorting out the process for housing, medical, mental health, substance abuse, employment, and mainstream benefits. At the same time, CVAG continues to use the crisis stabilization units to connect individuals to housing. These are apartments and hotel rooms where clients stay, up to 90 days, that keep them off the streets. Through case management and frequent interactions with the team, CVAG is helping them achieve the goal of permanent housing, programs, and family reunification.