Opportunity Village Exit Program

Homeless individuals in Banning have been temporarily located in an encampment on Bryant Street west of San Gorgonio Avenue. Those living in the encampment are receiving services from local faith-based and non-profit organizations as well as the City of Banning and Riverside County. The City of Banning is in the process of establishing a temporary emergency shelter village, called Opportunity Village Exit Program, on Bryant Street east of San Gorgonio Avenue. Currently, City staff are working with Riverside County to obtain funding through grant programs. Opportunity Village will provide shelter beds for up to 40 homeless individuals at a time. While at Opportunity Village, homeless individuals will be provided with wrap-around services to assist them with taking steps to move into housing programs, gain employment, and transition (exit) from homelessness.

CalTrans, CHP, City of Banning Police Department and City of Banning Public Works recently met on-site to notify homeless individuals in the encampment that they cannot place tents, shelters or other material within 20' of the CalTrans I-10 fence line. A coordinated effort to clean up the encampment is underway with assistance from CalTrans, City of Banning Public Works, and Faith in Action.

A contract has been awarded and work has begun installing perimeter fencing and utility connections at the site of Opportunity Village. After installation of the fencing and utility connections, pallet shelters, admin. office, security office, and restroom/laundry/shower units will be brought to the site and set up. The intake process will begin a couple weeks prior to completion of set-up so clients can move in as soon as possible.

On Tuesday, July 26, more than 50 homeless individuals in Banning were placed at Opportunity Village, Path of Life in Riverside and Coachella Valley Rescue Mission in Indio. The former homeless encampment on W Bryant Street has been dismantled and clean up of the site is near completion. A Grand Opening Celebration was held on Monday, August 1, 2022.