Armory Shelter Doing the Job

Re “Armory Shelter Plans Called Cold Comfort” (Dec. 29): I find it unfortunate that your readers were not given more information with which to decide whether Orange County’s management of the Armory Emergency Shelter Program warrants “special criticism.”

In relying on statements from Jere Witter of the Legal Aid Society comparing the number of nights shelters were open in Orange County and the San Fernando Valley, you fail to point out that the temperature frequently drops below 40 degrees in the San Fernando Valley while temperatures in central Orange County do not get that low as frequently.

Comparisons among other jurisdictions is also problematic since climatic conditions vary considerably between Northern and Southern California, coastal and valley communities, higher and lower elevations.

Also misleading is the statement that Orange County provides no direct funding for the program. The value of the contributions of the county and its employees, including administrative staffing costs, laundering of towels and blankets and site management, could easily exceed $400,000 for the winter depending on how many nights the weather criteria are met.

Through the cooperation of several cities and volunteer organizations and use of federal homeless assistance funds, costs have been minimized and the program is being operated without negatively impacting other needed human services programs.

The Armory Emergency Shelter Program is clearly not the solution to the problem of homelessness. However, it does provide a necessary service when weather conditions create an emergency need for use of the National Guard armories to augment the additional shelter beds in the county.

As of Jan. 4, the armories had been open for shelter for 15 nights over the past three-week period with an average of 106 people at Santa Ana and 65 at Fullerton. Unlike a previous report in The Times, no one has been turned away from either armory.

The county has worked very hard to make the Armory Emergency Shelter Program a community-sponsored program rather than a government welfare program.

The combined efforts of the county, several cities and community groups as well as hundreds of volunteers has resulted in an excellent program that is truly community sponsored.

DIANNE M. EDWARDS, Director, Adult & Employment Services, County of Orange