ORANGE COUNTY PERSPECTIVE : Spreading Holiday Warmth

Gov. Pete Wilson’s recent decision to allow counties expanded use of National Guard armories as shelters during the winter months was welcome in Orange County, even in the absence of money to keep shelters open for more nights. Other urban counties are finding ways to open armories more, and Orange County must do the same.

Wilson’s new policy allows counties to use armories any night during winter. Previously, armories could be used only if there was a forecast of 40 degrees or lower, or 50 degrees or lower with a 50% chance of rain.

Last winter, the armories in Fullerton and Santa Ana opened 33 nights and provided shelter to 5,600. Had these people been forced to stay out on the streets, many might have become ill and some might have died.

Orange County has a serious enough homeless problem that it must go beyond mere thermometer-watching.

Despite the obvious need, the Board of Supervisors in August considered cutting the program’s $130,000 funding because of a county budget crisis. Eventually, the program was retained, but the needed expansion is another matter. The cost of operating the program for 30 nights, including services provided by the county and other funding, is estimated at $255,000. Those costs would be much higher if the armories were opened every night.

On Wednesday, the Orange County Food and Shelter Board will decide whether to provide the program with a $191,000 federal grant, without which the program will have a hard time doing even what it is now. In the past, cities in the county have helped, but so far this year none has made a commitment to do so. That must change. Volunteers also are needed to staff the armories.

Providing the homeless with a warm place to sleep on cold and rainy nights is an indispensable service, so everyone should find ways to pitch in.