SANTA ANA : Census Aide Shown Homeless’ Locations
An Orange County advocate for the homeless took an unusual step Tuesday to ensure that the county’s homeless are not left out of this year’s census. Sam Boyce, director of Newport Beach-based Street People in Need (SPIN), took a local census official to the back alleys, park benches and other locations where the homeless often congregate.
Boyce said he offered his services to alert census officials to areas they might otherwise have missed.
Frank Fletcher, the Santa Ana crew leader for the Census Bureau’s Special Places Operation, said Tuesday’s dry run will be a great help in preparing for the actual count of the homeless.
“It is very important to me that the count is as accurate as possible because the census is supposed to benefit everyone,” Fletcher said. “Areas like street sites, abandoned houses or freeway overpasses, we look upon as a dwelling. It’s someone’s home--and that is what the census is all about.”
The homeless are scheduled to be counted in the late evening and early morning hours of March 20 and 21. Boyce and Fletcher visited four Santa Ana locations, including Civic Center Plaza and outside the county welfare office.
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