New Santa Ana | Tag Archives: OCTA Bus Terminal

The Santa Ana Transit Terminal is now open to the homeless during bad weather

Posted on January 31, 2016 by Art Pedroza Posted in homeless, Orange County, Santa Ana Leave a comment

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: January 31, 2016

Contact: Cymantha Atkinson (949) 337-5014, Cymantha.Atkinson@ocgov.com

Santa Ana Transit Terminal Open to Homeless During Storm

(Santa Ana, CA) – Eighty homeless individuals were housed Saturday evening at the Santa Ana Transit Terminal during Saturday evening rains, the first activation of the temporary shelter since its use was approved Friday by the Board of Supervisors.

“It is critical that we make emergency shelter available to those most vulnerable during severe rain events,” commented Orange County Board of Supervisors’ Chairwoman Lisa Bartlett as she toured the shelter on Sunday. “I am proud to say we made it happen.” Continue reading→

Feds approve use of vacant OCTA bus terminal in DTSA to shelter the homeless

Posted on January 27, 2016 by Art Pedroza Posted in Andrew Do, homeless, Orange County, Politics, Santa Ana Leave a comment

Federal Officials Approve Use of Transit Hub to Shelter Homeless

A plan to shelter the homeless during El Niño rainstorms at the unused Santa Ana Transit Terminal in the Orange County Civic Center has been approved on an interim basis through June by the Federal Transit Administration.

The approval was delivered by letter today, two days after the Orange County Transportation Authority made the request on behalf of the County. The County opened escrow last month to buy the property from the Orange County Transportation Authority; a proposed lease for the interim use was sent last week to OCTA and required federal approval. Continue reading→

OCTA bus terminal is no place for the homeless, according to city planners

Posted on March 28, 2012 by Art Pedroza Posted in Civic Affairs, homeless, Housing, Orange County, Paul Walters, Santa Ana 3 Comments

The Santa Ana Planning and Building Agency fired back today at those who are trying to force the City of Santa Ana to turn the vacant OCTA terminal building into permanent housing for the homeless. The Planning Agency sent a memo to City Manager Paul Walters, that you can read here, explaining in great detail why this is a very dumb idea. Walters, in turn, sent that memo to the Orange County Board of Supervisors.

The memo makes it clear that the City of Santa Ana wants to do its share to end homelessness, but the OCTA bus terminal building simply is not an appropriate place to shelter the homeless, for a number of reasons, including: Continue reading→