County to Again Run Homeless Shelters

The county Social Service Agency plans to resume operation this winter of emergency shelters for the homeless at National Guard armories in Santa Ana and Orange.

This year, an agency official said, the agency plans to seek some aid in operation of the shelters from the two city governments. It also plans to mount a campaign to raise money for the shelters from the private sector.

“It’s not real specific what we will ask (the cities) to do,” said Robert A. Griffith, agency deputy director. “That is something that can be worked out when we sit down and talk with them.”

Paid by Donations

Griffith said the agency’s goal is to have the shelter operation fully financed by donations. One private donor, Nathan Shapell, president and chairman of Shapell Industries Inc., contributed $30,000 last December.

The county for the first time last winter began housing the homeless on an emergency basis in the armories after Gov. George Deukmejian opened armories statewide as shelters. Several other counties, including Los Angeles and San Diego, operate armory shelters, Griffith said.

The Orange County shelters are to be used only on nights when the outdoor temperatures drop below 40 degrees or when there is more than a 50% chance of rain and the temperature drops below 50 degrees, according to Griffith.

The shelters were open a total of 18 nights last winter and served 2,109 homeless persons, according to a report the agency has prepared for the Board of Supervisors. The supervisors must approve the agency’s plan.

The armory used most often last winter was in Santa Ana, which can accommodate 125. The Orange armory can accommodate about 85 but was only used when National Guard personnel had to use the Santa Ana facility at night. Homeless people spend the night inside the armories, but are not allowed to stay there during the day.

Provide Security

Some of the things the cities could do, according to Griffith, are provide transportation for the homeless to and from the shelters and provide police officers for security. Security at the shelters last year was provided, at a cost of $4,138, by the Sheriff’s Department. Local charities provided about $6,000 worth of other services, including meals.

Of Shapell’s original donation, $19,861 is still on hand, according to the agency’s report. Shapell, head of the Beverly Hills-based development company that has properties in Orange County, has contributed cash to the county for several years. When he made the $30,000 donation last year, he specified that the money be directed to Orange County’s homeless, Griffith said.