Santa Ana’s Policy Toward Homeless

* The Times last November noted that Santa Ana lacks “a coherent long-term plan” to provide for “adequate provisions” for dealing with the problems of the homeless. In a December editorial, The Times complimented Santa Ana for making a start to deal with homeless issues if other cities would match Santa Ana’s commitment. In the same editorial, The Times notes “we in the county have to do more to reduce those numbers (of homeless).”

So, we then have the curious situation of The Times encouraging a countywide solution, yet ready to quit before the work begins. “Given the difficulty of getting Orange County cities to agree on such an issue, Santa Ana should be ready to act on its own even if other cities don’t join in.”

This is a regional problem and a regional responsibility. One city cannot hope to resolve this problem single-handedly, nor should The Times encourage anything short of a broad-based, countywide approach to address homelessness.

As our City Council has discussed this issue, several principles for developing a broad-based approach have begun to crystallize. The effort must be countywide, and participation should be equitable and fair. Second, the emphasis needs to be aimed at direct services, rather than bricks and mortar. Third, starting a brand-new government program makes little sense when our county has a wide range of capable service providers, and, fourth, the effort stands the best chance for success when supported by the countywide religious community.

Toward that end, a group of religious leaders, representatives of the Orange County Homeless Issues Task Force, and members of the Santa Ana City Council have been meeting to craft a program based on the principles described above. To fund the effort, I have suggested Santa Ana offer $300,000 (roughly matching $1 per capita) as a challenge grant to be authorized when nine additional Orange County cities match our commitment on a per capita basis.

Please note that this is above and beyond our current commitments that include expansion of YWCA and YMCA single room occupancy projects (SROs).

A lot of work remains to make this dream a reality. The Times ought to encourage this broad-based effort rather than expecting Santa Ana to solve a regional problem (really a national problem) on its own.

ROBERT L. RICHARDSON

Councilman, city of Santa Ana