FHLBank San Francisco, Rep. Bono Mack Participate in Grand Opening of New Coachella Valley Rescue Mission in Indio

INDIO, Calif., Nov. 9, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Local officials, including Rep. Mary Bono Mack (CA-45), attended the ribbon cutting ceremony for the new Coachella Valley Rescue Mission, a homeless and women's shelter serving Indio and the greater Palm Springs area.

The Federal Home Loan Bank of San Francisco (FHLBank San Francisco) provided a $1.5 million Affordable Housing Program grant towards construction of the new facility, which will house 150 homeless men, women, and children. The facility also now has a larger dining room and kitchen, giving the Mission more space to serve two public meals a day and distribute food boxes to families in need. The facility is located at 47-518 Van Buren Boulevard in Indio.

"It has been a long eight years since the Coachella Valley Rescue Mission stepped out on faith, purchasing 7.75 acres of land directly across the street from its current location," said Floyd Rhodes, Chairman of Coachella Valley Rescue Mission's Board of Directors. "With the completion of the new 45,000-square-foot building, we increase our ability to continue serving those in need through the provision of food, shelter, clothing, and spiritual recovery."

Rep. Bono Mack , a long time area resident, said the mission plays a critical role in helping members of the community who have fallen on hard times.

"Regardless of what level of government you serve in these days, everyone has a tight budget. However, nobody has a tighter budget right now than the American family," Rep. Bono Mack said at the ceremony on Monday. "The $1.5 million contribution of the Federal Home Loan Bank of San Francisco was instrumental in making the Coachella Valley Rescue Mission's new building a reality. I applaud their efforts to help put people back to work and to help house the homeless and feed the hungry,"

Kevin Blackburn, Assistant Vice President for FHLBank San Francisco, noted the importance of the public-private partnership that made the new facility possible.

"This is an example of the private and public sectors working together with the faith-based community to accomplish a goal that will address some of the challenges this community faces," Mr. Blackburn said. "We are proud to be a part of the coalition that helped make this amazing facility possible."

County Supervisor John Benoit said that Riverside County provided $2 million to acquire the land for the Mission. He also discussed the growing homeless situation in Riverside County, citing the need for the expanded services that the new Coachella Valley Rescue Mission will now provide.

"While we are here on such a beautiful day, it is unsettling to hear some of the statistics when it comes to the homeless in Riverside County," said Supervisor Benoit. "One in five homeless people is a child, with women and children making up nearly half of the homeless population, and one out of three men who are homeless are military veterans. It is clear just how important this rescue mission is to helping turn this around."

Darla Burkett, executive director of the Coachella Valley Rescue Mission, said, "Today is an important day because we are able to give people hope and strength for their future. This facility would not be here today if it was not for each and every one of you. The most important thing to remember is that today is not about the building, so much as it is about the people we serve."

The Federal Home Loan Bank of San Francisco

The Federal Home Loan Bank of San Francisco delivers low-cost funding and other services that help member financial institutions make home mortgages to people of all income levels and provide credit that supports neighborhoods and communities. The Bank also funds community investment programs that help members create affordable housing and promote community economic development. The Bank's members—its shareholders and customers—are headquartered in Arizona, California, and Nevada. Members may include federally insured depositories—commercial banks, credit unions, industrial loan companies, and savings institutions—as well as insurance companies and community development financial institutions, including privately insured, state-chartered credit unions and community development loan funds and venture capital funds that are certified by the Community Development Financial Institutions Fund of the U.S. Department of the Treasury.

Contact:  Kevin Blackburn, 415.616.2572, [email protected]

SOURCE Federal Home Loan Bank of San Francisco