Anaheim

Contentious Battle Over Homeless Shelter in Orange County

Advocates for the homeless welcome the shelter while business owners fight it.

A contentious battle over a proposed homeless shelter in Orange County will soon be settled, officials said Monday.

If the proposal is accepted, a first-ever county-run shelter will be designated with 200 beds at 1000 North Kraemer Place near the 91 Freeway.

While activists fighting homelessness said they welcome the idea, business owners said they don’t want it there.

"Right now there a stigma to it," Tim Houchens, a man who used to be homeless, said. "You know, a lot of fear."

Houchens now lives in an apartment and advocates for the homeless after he had a rough experience living on the street. He admitted he had drug problems.

He said he runs a nonprofit called "Hope 4 Restoration" to help others get off the street as well.

He said he once slept on the ground near Santa Ana's Civic Center, not far from the Walk of Honor where hundreds gather daily because they have no place else to go.

Houchens said he believes the answer to homelessness is the vacant industrial building the County wants to buy and turn into its first homeless shelter.

"What I’ve basically built is a road map for how to come out of homelessness and all we need is these resources that are becoming available," Houchens said. "The thing about these shelters is it’s an entry point into the system."

The most recent numbers showed more than 4,400 people are homeless on any given day in Orange County, totaling to more than 15,000 over a year.

Michael Chew of "Better Solutions 4 Anaheim" said the Anaheim site is the wrong place.

"We're already having problems with the mentally ill folks and the homeless people stealing mail, substance abusers, and people camping out, defecating in our parks," Chew said.

Chew said a building not far from the homeless gathering spot would be more appropriate.

On Monday, police hauled away unclaimed sleeping bags and suitcases in an effort to keep the area clean. The items are placed in storage.

Opponents of the shelter said they understand there is a need, but worry about crime caused by those who potentially wouldn’t be admitted into the shelter.

"We would look to the County to provide us some sort of guarantee so that if it does create problems in the community that they'd shut the shelter down," Chew said.

The County has said there will be 24-hour security at the location, and Anaheim's homeless outreach task force promised regular patrols as well.

Officials said they expect a packed house at the OC Board of Supervisors Tuesday.  

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