Countywide : U.S. Budget Impasse Shuts Down 2 Shelters
Two cold-weather shelters that provided housing and food for 250 people a night in Orange County were forced to close Feb. 27 when half of their federal funding was held up by the budget stalemate in Washington.
“Most of the people there cannot care for themselves,” said Jim Miller, president of Shelter for the Homeless, which operates the two shelters at National Guard armories in Fullerton and Santa Ana. “They come with mental, physical, drug and alcohol problems . . . to find comfort from the cold and rain,” Miller said.
Due to the budget impasse, the Federal Emergency Management Agency sent only $74,000 of the $160,000 scheduled for the Midway City-based, nonprofit organization.
The shelters would have remained open at least until March 15, depending on weather conditions, Miller said.
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