Leaders Working To Help Orange County's Homeless

HUNTINGTON BEACH, CA - Various Orange County leaders Wednesday pledged to a federal judge in Santa Ana that they would find additional shelter beds for the county's homeless.

U.S. District Judge David O. Carter, who is presiding over litigation regarding the county's transient population, was meeting in chambers Wednesday with various local leaders to discuss sites for emergency shelters. It was another step forward in efforts to settle the litigation, which could lead the judge to hand down a restraining order prohibiting the county and cities from enforcing anti-camping laws unless they can prove they have provided enough shelter for the homeless in their jurisdiction.

Huntington Beach officials say they anticipate a shelter with room for 55 beds may be done by the fall, and another 20 beds could be added in the next six to nine months. A local businessman said he was working with local leaders on a shelter that could include 200 beds in northern Orange County.

Carter was also in talks with leaders from elsewhere in the county on a plan to locate shelters in the central, western and southern parts of the county. Some city leaders may be given the option to not provide shelter beds, but pay money instead to subsidize a project elsewhere.

Orange County Board of Supervisors Chairman Andrew Do emphasized that the county "has been ready and willing to collaborate with cities, and other stakeholders, to create a system of care for the entire county, one that makes sense."

Do wants shelters placed near public transportation, healthcare services and jobs, he said.

The county has three goals now. One is fleshing out the "system of care," financing of the shelters and locating sites for the homeless facilities. The county needs "one more low-barrier emergency shelter" with room for up to 200 beds, Do said.

The county wants to shut down the Courtyard shelter in the Santa Ana civic center area and open up a new location that provides more room for beds and "wrap-around services" for transients, Do said.

The county also needs two additional "crisis stabilization units" aside from the one in Santa Ana that has room for 10 beds, Do said.

In all, the county wants 2,700 "supportive housing units across the county," Do said.

Some local officials have suggested several smaller facilities spread throughout the county, but Do said he preferred "two larger shelter sites, rather than numerous smaller sites, in order to achieve the necessary economy of scale."

Not having to find additional sites reduces "NIMBYism," Do said.

Do pointed out that on Tuesday the Board of Supervisors adopted a new strategy that details opportunities to finance the additional 2,700 supportive housing units. He assured wary city leaders that the plans are not final, but a "rough roadmap as to how to navigate financing resources to achieve our goal. It is in no way final."

Do added that work is being done to craft legislation for a Joint Powers Authority to "assist nonprofit developers, the county and the cities with capital financing plans" for homeless shelters. He anticipates approving the legislation for a JPA in early July.

Do said some local leaders may be "foot dragging" on finding sites for shelters because they question Carter's jurisdiction and why their municipality should be part of the legislation.

Do estimated the 2,700 homeless housing units would cost up to $930 million.

Carter said he has been "astounded" at the progress of finding shelter beds.

He warned that if some cities dig in and file appeals in the case then "we're out of the settlement business." A restraining order could be issued and then that would "emasculate" local law enforcement from arresting transients for violating anti-camping laws.

So, Carter said, "Do I have jurisdiction? I think so, but it's 50-50."

Santa Ana has filed a complaint that would drag all of the county's cities into the case, but has so far not served all of the cities, Carter noted.

Santa Ana Mayor Miguel Pulido told Carter that in his recent talks with his fellow local elected leaders that he "felt a spirit of cooperation."

Pulido said he consulted with U.S. Sen. Dianne Feinstein, who has indicated she wants to seek some sort of federal matching funds for county homeless projects. Carter said he has also spoken with Feinstein, and he noted Gov. Jerry Brown was trying to call him, but had a slightly wrong number.

Pulido said the city needs help fast.

"We're drowning," Pulido said of the cost of addressing homeless issues rising to $17 million over the past year.

"We're just being inundated by this homeless situation," Pulido said.

Carter also told attorneys representing railroad companies that they needed to step up enforcement of homeless encampments on their property.

Srdjan_Randjelovic, Shutterstock Photo