Glimmer of Hope on Homeless Situation : * Forum Can Provide a Starting Point to Address Problem at Santa Ana’s Civic Center

It seems unfair that Santa Ana has almost single-handedly been forced to cope with much of the homelessness in Orange County, a problem that not only is countywide but national in scope.

Given recent events, Santa Ana is badly in need of fresh ideas to manage this untenable situation without blaming the victims or shirking its responsibilities to protect its residents and workers.

Recently, the Legal Aid Society of Orange County proposed formation of a “Civic Center Forum,” a coalition of interested parties, to address the concerns of the homeless and others confronted with their problems. All are frustrated--the homeless because the city lacks shelters and soup kitchens, and area workers and residents because they feel threatened by people who loiter on public walkways and grounds. But at least an important sign of progress recently is that Police Chief Paul Walters and the Orange County Employees Assn. have signaled their willingness to participate.

In the past, such frustration led the city to use unwise tactics, including confiscating homeless people’s belongings and rounding them up for arrest on minor infractions. Both efforts backfired. A lawsuit brought by Legal Aid resulted in a settlement in which the city paid $50,000 to 15 people whose belongings were taken. As for the “sweeps”--the city doesn’t like that label, but it’s evident that’s what they were--the city has promised that police will not target the homeless in large-scale arrests.

Unfortunately, these positive steps still leave the problem of homelessness in the Civic Center pretty much where it was. Most of those with alcohol and drug addictions or mental illness still don’t have treatment centers to go to or enough money to pay rent. And city and county workers who walk amid the homeless complain that they are harassed by panhandlers, intimidated by sleeping vagrants in doorways and stairwells, and disgusted by homeless people who use the bushes for bathrooms.

The employees are so desperate that 600 signed a petition supporting police sweeps. But, as the recent settlement indicates, sweeps are of questionable legality and effectiveness.

By unwillingly providing makeshift “homes” for those with no other place to live, Santa Ana is paying the price for the rest of the county. The Civic Center Forum will at least provide a place to start addressing a problem that will inevitably require a cooperative effort by local and county government, church and civic groups.