Deep Cuts Recommended in Funding for Santa Ana Shelters : Housing: Proposal, which will go to the City Council, is prompted by a decrease in federal aid.

The city’s homeless shelters would be hit with a 30% cut in federal grant money under recommendations passed Tuesday by the Housing Commission.

The recommended cuts reflect a decrease in federal emergency shelter grants to the city from $94,000 last year to $66,000 in fiscal 1993-94. Seven programs in the city will share that money.

“We’re working hard to find money in other places,” said Mary Douglas, executive director of the South Orange County YWCA, which runs one of the city’s largest homeless shelters. “But at the same time, more and more people are asking us for help. It’s hard to say no.”

The cuts would hit the YWCA’s hotel for homeless women especially hard, operators said.

The shelter, which houses 38 women nightly, would receive $36,000, which is $14,000 less than it received last year.

As money sources dry up, shelters have had to compete fiercely with others for grants. Many have trimmed their services and employees.

“We’ve cut back a lot,” Douglas said. “We’ve reduced hours, and we can’t cut any more or we’ll have staff members that become homeless.

“When I hear about government projects that cost millions, I think about what we’re able to do with a few thousand dollars.”

Linda Schulein, president of the board of directors for Orange Coast Interfaith Shelter, agreed. Her shelter, which houses 18 families in rooms and has 40 other beds, received a $7,500 grant in 1992 but would receive only $3,000 this year under the commission’s recommendations to the City Council.

“It costs $10 per person, per day to feed, house and counsel a homeless person,” Schulein said. “If we couldn’t serve those people, you’re talking about 750 days of shelter.”

Schulein, however, isn’t predicting a shutdown for the shelter, which is in Costa Mesa but serves many homeless people who list Santa Ana as their last address. Like other centers, Orange Coast Interfaith is asking corporate and private donors for help--even if people can only give food, blankets or their time.

The Salvation Army, which runs a 52-bed house in Santa Ana, would receive $3,000 less in emergency shelter money. As it is, the shelter has to turn away homeless people about every other day, said resident manager George Aste.

“I guess we’ll have to figure out a way to come up with more funds,” he said.

A total of 10,000 to 12,000 homeless people live in the county, according to Tim Shaw, program director for the Orange County Homeless Issues Task Force. There are about 900 beds countywide for them.

Other groups slated to receive reduced funds include the Shelter for the Homeless, the Dayle McIntosh Center and Santa Ana Recreation and Community Services. Orange County Youth and Family Services would not receive any money, and Mercy House and Episcopal Service Alliance would get new grants of $4,500.