New Santa Ana | Category Archives: homeless

The County of Orange approves $1.6M to prevent the homeless from returning to the riverbed and the Civic Center

Posted on May 9, 2018 by Editor Posted in Andrew Do, homeless, Housing, Orange County, Santa Ana Leave a comment

Homelessness: County Approves $1.6 Million to Prevent Return of Riverbed & Civic Center Encampments

Orange County is taking steps to prevent the return of homeless encampments at the Santa Ana Civic Center and Riverbed, which were permanently cleared earlier this year.

Today, the Orange County Board of Supervisors approved $1.6 million for supportive housing services for homeless individuals that were removed from the Santa Ana Riverbed and Civic Center. In March, the county cleared 13,950 needles, 400 tons of debris and 5,279 pounds of hazardous waste from the Riverbed encampment. Continue reading→

Santa Ana homeless update from O.C. Supervisor Andrew Do

Posted on April 29, 2018 by Editor Posted in Andrew Do, Crime, homeless, Orange County, Santa Ana 1 Comment

Study Session on Homelessness

This week Chairman Andrew Do called for a Study Session on Homelessness for the Orange County Board of Supervisors.

The meeting focused on building the County’s System of Care including mental health system integration, existing permanent supportive housing and units that in the pipeline, and federal funding sources allocated to the County and cities in Orange County. Continue reading→

They are trying to give away syringes to drug addicts, in Downtown Santa Ana, again!

Posted on April 26, 2018 by Editor Posted in Crime, Drugs, homeless, Santa Ana 2 Comments

Remember the nonprofit Orange County Needle Exchange Program , the weekly needle exchange program that made such a mess at Santa Ana’s Civic Center? Well the same nonprofit that got booted before is back – seeking state approval to bring needles back to our Downtown to give to homeless drug addicts, according to the O.C. Register.

These folks want to bring a van or some other type of vehicle to the area bounded by (N) East 4th Street, (E) North Standard Ave, (S) South Grand Avenue, and (W) East Chestnut Avenue, between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. at least once a week, with more frequent service as needed. Continue reading→

The Santa Ana City Council has decided to sue all Orange County cities over the homeless issue

Posted on April 25, 2018 by Editor Posted in homeless, Orange County, Santa Ana Leave a comment

City of Santa Ana

Community: Santa Ana Expands Legal Action on Homelessness. City Will Add All Other Orange County Cities to Lawsuit

SANTA ANA, CA – On Wednesday evening, the Santa Ana City Council directed the City’s legal counsel to take legal action against all Orange County cities and the County of Orange to compel parties to take immediate steps toward addressing homelessness throughout the County. Santa Ana will file the action by the end of the week.

The decision from the Santa Ana City Council closely followed a Tuesday afternoon decision from the Orange County Board of Supervisors to unanimously reject a shelter site proposal by south county mayors. Last week, the group of mayors proposed putting a homeless shelter in a remote canyon on property currently used as a pre-school and public library. The County has tasked cities with identifying and proposing homeless shelter sites. Continue reading→

The County of Orange has bolstered mental health services again

Posted on April 24, 2018 by Editor Posted in Andrew Do, homeless, Mental Health, Orange County, Santa Ana Leave a comment

Orange County Bolsters Mental Health Support Services

By: First District Supervisor Andrew Do

Orange County is bolstering its non-crisis mental health support hotline after experiencing a 56 percent surge in non-emergency calls last year.

The Orange County Board of Supervisors approved a new contract today that will provide more than a half-million dollars in funding for OC Warmline, a free and confidential non-crisis service for residents that are experiencing a mental health problem or behavioral health issue. Continue reading→

OC Health Care Agency completes assessments of the Civic Center’s homeless

Posted on April 14, 2018 by Editor Posted in homeless, Mental Health, OC Health Care, Orange County, Santa Ana Leave a comment

OC Health Care Agency Completes Assessments of Homeless Individuals in Civic Center

Santa Ana, Calif. (April 13, 2018) – As of April 10, the OC Health Care Agency (HCA), in partnership with the City of Santa Ana Police Department, completed all assessments of homeless individuals residing in the Civic Center. The Civic Center area is bounded by Civic Center Drive to the north, Santa Ana Boulevard/Fourth Street to the south, Flower Street to the west and Sycamore Street to
the east.

As of April 12, the Plaza of the Flags area in the Civic Center was cleared of any encampments. Continue reading→

Santa Ana’s Civic Center has finally been cleansed of the homeless squatters

Posted on April 13, 2018 by Editor Posted in Andrew Do, homeless, Orange County, Santa Ana 3 Comments

By: Supervisor Andrew Do

The Santa Ana Civic Center has been cleared of all encampments. I visited the Plaza of the Flags with Orange County CEO Frank Kim to see the now uninhabited area.

The Orange County Health Care Agency in partnership with the City of Santa Ana Police Department completed 234 assessments of homeless individuals residing in the Civic Center Plaza. The individuals have been placed in a variety of programs including the Courtyard Transitional Shelter, Bridges at Kramer Place, SAFEPlace and more. 135 individuals declined services. Continue reading→

Las Vegas man arrested for assaulting a homeless man in Costa Mesa

Posted on April 11, 2018 by Editor Posted in Costa Mesa, Crime, homeless Leave a comment

William Kent Shelfer

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: April 11, 2018

Costa Mesa Police Department

Advisory: Las Vegas man arrested yesterday for hitting 53-year-old victim and causing severe head trauma

COSTA MESA, Calif. – The Costa Mesa Police Department (CMPD) last night arrested a Las Vegas man for hitting a male victim, leaving him with serious head trauma. Continue reading→

The SAPD has arrested a homeless man for burglarizing the same apartment twice

Posted on April 11, 2018 by Editor Posted in Crime, homeless, Santa Ana, SAPD Leave a comment

Santa Ana Police Department

Advisory: SAPD Officers Arrest Suspect For Burglary After Going To Same Apartment Twice In A Three Day Period

Arrested: Isaias Vargas-Martinez (26) Transient Santa Ana

Summary: Monday, 4-9-2018 at 10:17 pm officers responded to a cat burglary in progress. The victim and her roommate were in the first floor of their bottom floor condo, when victim #1 walked in her bedroom and noticed her desk had been moved. The victim looked out her window and noticed the screen was no longer in place. The victim turned around and saw a male suspect standing in her bedroom. The suspect did not say anything; instead he put his index finger over his mouth indicating the victim be quiet. The victims were able to lock themselves in their bathroom and call 911. The suspect fled prior to police arrival.

A K9 was used to search the apartment and DUKE conducted an area check with negative results. The suspect is described as a male, Hispanic, 30 yrs., 5’07”-5’08” tall, dark skin, wearing baggy khaki long shorts and no shirt. Continue reading→

Santa Ana’s homeless shelter is getting more restrooms and showers

Posted on April 10, 2018 by Editor Posted in Andrew Do, homeless, Orange County, Santa Ana Leave a comment

By: OC Supervisor Andrew Do

New restrooms and showers will be coming to the only walk-in emergency homeless shelter in Orange County.

Today, the Orange County Board of Supervisors approved the installation of a new 7-unit restroom facility and 8-unit shower facility at the Courtyard Transitional Center in Santa Ana. In October 2016, Supervisor Andrew Do spearheaded the effort to open the emergency shelter in Santa Ana, which now houses as many as 450 homeless each night and has transitioned 281 people to long-term housing.

In addition to short-term steps to increase restrooms and showers at Orange County’s only emergency homeless shelter, County Supervisors approved an additional $3.48 million for recuperative care beds as part of the county’s Whole Person Care pilot program. The total is now $8.38 million towards recuperative care for the homeless. Continue reading→

The O.C. armory homeless shelter program has been extended for another 90 days

Posted on April 10, 2018 by Editor Posted in Civic Affairs, homeless, Jerry Brown, Orange County, Santa Ana Leave a comment

City of Santa Ana, Downtown Orange County

Community: Governor Brown Acts to Extend Armory Shelter Program in Orange County

SANTA ANA, CA – Last week, the City of Santa Ana sent a letter requesting that the California National Guard consider the approval of an extension of the Orange County Cold Weather Armory Emergency Shelter Program for at least 90 days past the scheduled April 15, 2018 closure. This was followed up this week by Assemblywoman Sharon Quirk-Silva (District 65) and Assemblymember Tom Daly (District 69) requesting support from the Governor to make this request a reality.

“Now is not the time to turn our backs on some of the most vulnerable members of our community,” said Assemblywoman Quirk-Silva. “I truly appreciate the Governor’s fast response to this request,” said Assemblymember Tom Daly. Continue reading→

The Santa Ana River Trail has been cleared of the homeless and has reopened

Posted on April 9, 2018 by Editor Posted in Bicycles, Crime, homeless, Orange County, Santa Ana Leave a comment

Closed Portion of Santa Ana River Trail to Reopen April 7

Santa Ana, Calif. (April 6, 2018) – A portion of the Santa Ana River Trail from Memory Lane in Santa Ana to Taft Avenue in Orange was closed to the public on January 22, 2018, for an environmental remediation project. It was anticipated to remain closed for up to three months.

The County has made significant progress on the project, and a modified public access route will be restored April 7, 2018. Continue reading→

The homeless man murdered at El Salvador Park today has been identified

Posted on April 7, 2018 by Editor Posted in Crime, homeless, Santa Ana Leave a comment

Santa Ana Police Department

Advisory: Victim Identified – Detectives Investigating Homicide In El Salvador Park – Requesting Public Assistance

Update: Victim has been identified as Juan Molina (66) Homeless

On Saturday, April 7, 2018, at 06:57 AM, Santa Ana Police officers responded to El Salvador Park to a report of a man down and bleeding from the head. Orange County Fire Authority paramedics treated the victim at the scene and declared him deceased at 07:08 AM. Continue reading→

A homeless man was assaulted and killed at El Salvador Park early this morning

Posted on April 7, 2018 by Editor Posted in Crime, homeless, Santa Ana, SAPD Leave a comment

Santa Ana Police Department

Advisory: Detectives Investigating Homicide In El Salvador Park – Requesting Public Assistance

Victim: Name pending notification of family

Homeless Male -66

251 homeless transients refused shelter and services after exiting the Santa Ana River trail

Posted on April 4, 2018 by Editor Posted in homeless, Orange County, Santa Ana 1 Comment

Photo by Tim Houchen

County Concludes 30-Day Motel Program for Individuals Previously Encamped along the Santa Ana Riverbed

Santa Ana, Calif. (April 2, 2018) – As of March 28, 2018, the County of Orange concluded its 30-day motel program for individuals previously encamped along the Santa Ana Riverbed. The program, which began at the end of February 2018, involved 697 individuals and 51 motels throughout Orange County.

While the full text of a memorandum from County Executive Officer Frank Kim is available online, below are highlights from the data. Continue reading→