Simi Valley’s homeless must find a new place to go on Friday mornings.

Due to a lack of funds, the Samaritan Center has been forced to shut its doors one weekday. It’s now open Monday to Thursday from 7 to 11 a.m. and Saturdays from 7 to 9 a.m.

“The economy has definitely affected us. We’ve reduced our staff, and we’re closing on Fridays now,” said Betty Eskey, executive director of the center.

The morning drop-in facility provides breakfast, shower facilities, clean clothes and laundry services, in addition to other services.

The center is seeing about 65 to 70 clients a day, which Eskey said is fairly high considering the unseasonably warm weather. While the numbers haven’t dramatically increased from last year, they are higher than the center anticipated a couple of years ago, she said.

As with other nonprofits, the center always struggles with having enough funds to cover its operating expenses. But finances are particularly tight this year, Eskey said.

Even though the center has enough food and the resources, it just comes down to paying the utility bills.

“Income has been down a little bit from just the community giving,” Eskey said. “As far as donations go—food, clothing, blankets—we’re still having a wonderful response with that. But everyone in the community is being stretched right now financially, and of course that affects us.”

—Carissa Marsh