Emergency Shelter Kept Open at Santa Ana Armory

As the near-record-breaking cold siege of the last few days appeared to be easing in Southern California on Monday, Orange County extended the emergency shelter at the Armory in Santa Ana until at least tonight.

According to Angel Martinez, a National Guard specialist on duty in the armory at 612 E. Warner, 139 men, women and children--the highest number in the eight days the armory has been open for the homeless--were camped out on cots Monday night. The armory is nearly at capacity now.

Day-by-Day Basis

He said a decision would to remain open after tonight would be made day by day.

In Los Angeles, officials decided to keep the emergency shelters open until Wednesday morning because of the threat of rain.

Homeless people at the Santa Ana armory receive a blanket, towel a cot and food provided by volunteers from the Feedback Foundation and Share Our Selves , according to Bob Griffith, chief deputy director of the Orange County Social Services Agency.

“The longer we say in operation, the more the word spreads on the street, the more customers we get.

“They tell us they like us because we don’t have a preacher.”

There is no likelihood the shelter will become permanent, Griffith said.

At one point, local social service workers called officials in Washingtonc to determine whether federal funds might be available for the temporary homeless shelter. “They nearly got laughed off the phone for considering 40 degrees to be bad weather,” Griffith said.

“They called us California wimps.”