Desert Healthcare District provides $50K to support Coachella Valley families affected by tropical storm

More than 120 Coachella Valley families who experienced trauma, property damage, and loss during Tropical Storm Hilary in August will receive help, supported by the Desert Healthcare District and Foundation.

When the storm rolled through the Inland Empire on Aug. 20, the valley received more than 3 inches of rainfall. The unprecedented weather deluged desert communities, displacing residents, creating financial hardship, and resulting in mental health challenges.

Nearly four months later, the effects linger. In the hardest-hit areas -- Cathedral City, Mecca, North Shore, Oasis and Thermal -- some residents are unable to return to their homes due to severe damage or impassable roads. Others lack access to health services.

To learn how best to provide aid to residents in need, the Healthcare District and Foundation coordinated in October two listening sessions with residents. The sessions were attended by District and Foundation Board President Evett PerezGil; Directors Kimberly Barraza, Leticia De Lara and Les Zendle, MD; interim CEO Chris Christensen; and Chief of Community Engagement Alejandro Espinoza.

The sessions also were informed by CEO Rick Saldivar of Chance Initiative, TODEC Executive Director Luz Gallegos, the Coachella Valley Behavioral Health Collective, and the Coachella Valley Equity Collaborative.

"To hear directly from the residents was extremely insightful," President PerezGil said. "They brought to the forefront many issues that they have been dealing with since the storm, ranging from post traumatic stress disorder to farmworkers' inability to work after their crops were destroyed."

As a result, the Healthcare District and Foundation Board recently allocated:

• $10,000 to Chance Initiative to help develop a behavioral health resource list, in English and Spanish, to disseminate directly and through targeted outreach to families impacted by the storm.

• $40,000 to TODEC to work with community partners in mitigating the health impact by helping eastern valley residents navigate and access direct support services.

"Because the storm's aftermath was rare and largely unexpected, it required the District and our partners to work together to identify residents' health and wellness needs across the valley," said Alejandro Espinoza, chief of community engagement. "We are optimistic the assistance that our Board approved will help the community as a whole in its recovery."

Please read the District and Foundation staff report to learn more about these efforts.

About the Desert Healthcare District and Foundation

The Desert Healthcare District is a local government agency formed in 1948. Its mission is to achieve optimal health at all stages of life for all District residents. The District includes more than 400,000 residents and encompasses the entire Coachella Valley. The District and Desert Healthcare Foundation, together, are one of the largest funders in the valley. These funds are used to assist residents — especially the underserved — in accessing vitally needed resources, such as primary and behavioral healthcare. Learn more at dhcd.org.