Organization continues operations for Fresno’s homeless, recuperative care patients

FRESNO, Calif. (KSEE/KGPE) – It’s been over two weeks since RH Community Builders took over operations of the recuperative care facility on North Blackstone.

On Oct. 7, the LA-based organization, Soul Housing, abruptly shut down operations, leaving 250 people at risk of losing shelter.

But two community leaders stepped up before that could happen. The Poverello House took in about 40 people living at the shelter, and RH Community Builders took over operations to ensure no one was unexpectedly put out on the street. 

Forty Soul Housing staff also received same-day termination. But Katie Wilbur, executive director of RH Community Builders, says they were able to keep 15 of those employees.

“Our team has been working hard to figure out exactly what’s been going on. Identify who was here and then figure out who should be here and who couldn’t stay any longer,” shared Wilbur. And the facility has been renamed Evolv Path.

The shelter, funded through Medi-Cal, provides support for patients recently discharged from the hospital. They’re eligible for up to six months of care. “That looks like a lot of wound care. Being able to easily get to follow-up appointments and medication management with our nursing team,” Wilbur explained.

The next steps for Evolv Path are to move patients to a new facility that RH Community has been working on prior to the closure of Soul Housing. “We are accepting new referrals,” Wilbur added. While she can’t say where the new recuperative care facility will be, Wilbur hopes to have that site running by the end of the year. 

The property on North Blackstone is privately owned, Wilbur said, so it’s unknown what will happen to the former motel once the clients are taken to the new location.