Last night at about 9:30 p.m., a University of California Irvine (UCI) student was conducting interviews of the homeless population in the Civic Center area. Near the Santa Ana Library area, a suspect grabbed the student’s personal bag that was on yhe ground and ran away. Continue reading
Category Archives: homeless
A homeless woman was killed by a hit and run driver this morning on S. Bristol St.
Santa Ana Police Department
Advisory: SAPD Collision Investigation Unit Investigating Fatal Hit and Run
Kerry Dawn Oliphant (43) Homeless
On 08/17/16 at 12:10 am, an SAPD K-9 officer was driving northbound in the 2400 block of South Bristol Street when he was flagged down by witnesses of a hit and run traffic collision. They directed the officer to a female pedestrian that was lying in the street. The pedestrian was unresponsive. The witnesses indicated that a silver SUV or minivan was northbound in the #1 lane of Bristol Street in front of them when it struck the pedestrian. The vehicle never slowed and continued to the red light at Warner Avenue. Once the red left turn arrow turned to green, the silver vehicle fled the scene westbound on Warner and out of sight. Continue reading
The County is installing new bathrooms for the homeless at the Civic Center
Tackling Homelessness: County of Orange to Install New Bathrooms at Civic Center – Providing 24/7 Access for Homeless
By: First District Supervisor Andrew Do
(Santa Ana, California)— As part of its comprehensive response to homelessness, the County of Orange is moving forward with plans to install new bathrooms at the Orange County Civic Center, providing 24-hour access for hundreds of people who are currently homeless.
Orange County Supervisor Andrew Do, who has spearheaded the county’s homeless response, said that bathroom access is one of the most frequent complaints he’s heard from his discussions with homeless residents. Continue reading
Homeless man shot by the police at Santa Ana’s Plaza of the Flags
BREAKING NEWS – Richard Gene Swihart, a 32-year-old homeless man, has been shot by an SAPD police officer, at Santa Ana’s Plaza of the Flags, at the Civic Center. The man was hit in the upper torso and was undergoing surgery, according to the O.C. Register.
The O.C. Register has confirmed that the shooting was by an SAPD police officer, outside the courthouse. Continue reading
The Santa Ana City Council approves spending $1.2 M to help the homeless
City of Santa Ana, Downtown Orange County
Community Alert: Santa Ana City Council Approves Funding to Address Chronic Homelessness
At last night’s meeting, the Santa Ana City Council unanimously approved approximately $1.2 million in HOME Investment Partnership Program funds for the Guest House project. This is the first permanent supportive housing project for chronically homeless individuals in Santa Ana and one of the largest projects to provide housing for homeless individuals in Orange County.
The Guest House is located at 2151 E. First Street and is being developed by Community Development Partners through the rehabilitation of an existing hotel. The Guest House will provide 57 studio units and 14 one-bedroom units serving homeless residents. The design will feature four two-story buildings, a community garden, commercial kitchen, outdoor courtyard and laundry facilities. Continue reading
The County of Orange opens the bidding for running their new homeless shelter
Supervisor Andrew Do: Homeless Shelter Operator Should Prioritize Innovation, Value for Taxpayers
Santa Ana, California – The County of Orange has opened the bidding process for running the county’s first permanent, year-round homeless shelter. At the Orange County Board of Supervisors May 10th meeting, a unanimous board voted to initiate the next step in its efforts to address homelessness in the county.
Orange County Supervisor Andrew Do says that the county should look for a vendor that will deliver the best value for taxpayers and prioritize innovation in addressing homelessness in Orange County. Continue reading
Drunk homeless man arrested after starting a brush fire at Santiago Park
Martin Alonso Cea, a 33-year-old drunk homeless man, was arrested on Monday night after lighting vegetation on fire inside Santiago Park, according to the O.C. Register.
Cea, 33, was seen by two people around 8:10 p.m. inside the park at 2535 N. Main St. just before he intentionally started a brush fire near the creek bed, according to the SAPD. Continue reading
Waste Not OC named model public health practice by the National Assn. of County and City Health Officials
Waste Not OC Named Model Public Health Practice by National Association of County and City Health Officials
Waste Not OC, a coalition working to combat food insecurity in Orange County, has been selected as a model practice by the National Association of County and City Health Officials (NACCHO) after demonstrating exemplary and replicable qualities in response to a local public health need.
In Orange County, one in five people faces food insecurity on any given day. To address this growing social problem, the County of Orange Health Care Agency’s Public Health Officer spearheaded the creation of a coalition of food banks, health care representatives, restaurants, food distributors, and community leaders called Waste Not OC. The organization is a public-private partnership with the goal of eliminating hunger and reducing food waste by facilitating surplus food donations from food-producing facilities to local pantries. Continue reading
The O.C. Coroner seeks the next of kin of a dead homeless man found in Santa Ana
NEWS
Contacts: Lt. Mark Stichter, 714.904.7042, MKStichter@ocsd.org; Carrie Braun, 714.552.5795, CBraun@ocsd.org
Orange County Coroner Seeks Public’s Assistance Locating Next of Kin
SANTA ANA, Calif. (March, 01 2016) – The Orange County Sheriff’s Department Coroner Division has been able to identify a man found dead in a park on April 6, 1991 as Daniel Valencia Munguia (AKA Antonio Alvarez Madriz) DOB 11-10-1946. The identification was made via fingerprints. There is no available picture of Mr. Munguia. Mr. Munguia had a tattoo on his left shoulder that said, “I {heart} PIYO.” Continue reading
Transient man sentenced for brutally attacking an 83-year-old man in Santa Ana
ORANGE COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY PRESS RELEASE
Case # 15CF2232
Date: February 25, 2016
SANTA ANA, Calif. – A transient man was sentenced today to nine years in state prison for attacking and critically injuring an 83-year-old man. Demarrea Chante Barnes, 29, pleaded guilty Feb. 4, 2016, to one felony count of assault with force likely to produce great bodily injury, one felony count of elder and dependent adult abuse, a sentencing enhancement for great bodily injury, and three state prison priors for drug possession in 2005 and 2008, and assault on a peace officer with injury in 2012.
At approximately 6:00 a.m. on Sept. 25, 2015, John Doe, 83, drove to a strip mall on West Edinger Street in Santa Ana to get his daily newspaper and coffee. As John Doe was walking in the parking lot to the coffee shop, Barnes attacked the victim, punched him in the face and knocked the victim to the ground. The defendant kicked John Doe multiple times and then fled the scene. Continue reading
Transient convicted of beating and seriously injuring an elderly man in Santa Ana
ORANGE COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY PRESS RELEASE
Case # 15CF2232
Date: February 4, 2016
TRANSIENT MAN CONVICTED OF ATTACKING AND CRITICALLY INJURING 83-YEAR-OLD VICTIM
SANTA ANA, Calif. – A transient man was convicted today for attacking and critically injuring an 83-year-old man. Demarrea Chante Barnes, 29, pleaded guilty today to one felony count of assault with force likely to produce great bodily injury, one felony count of elder and dependent adult abuse, a sentencing enhancement for great bodily injury, and three state prison priors for drug possession in 2005 and 2008, and assault on a peace officer with injury in 2012. He is expected to be sentenced to nine years in state prison at his sentencing Feb. 25, 2016, at 8:30 a.m. in Department C-49, Central Justice Center, Santa Ana. Continue reading
The Santa Ana Transit Terminal is now open to the homeless during bad weather
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: January 31, 2016
Contact: Cymantha Atkinson (949) 337-5014, Cymantha.Atkinson@ocgov.com
Santa Ana Transit Terminal Open to Homeless During Storm
(Santa Ana, CA) – Eighty homeless individuals were housed Saturday evening at the Santa Ana Transit Terminal during Saturday evening rains, the first activation of the temporary shelter since its use was approved Friday by the Board of Supervisors.
“It is critical that we make emergency shelter available to those most vulnerable during severe rain events,” commented Orange County Board of Supervisors’ Chairwoman Lisa Bartlett as she toured the shelter on Sunday. “I am proud to say we made it happen.” Continue reading
Temporary Santa Ana homeless shelter approved by the OC Supervisors
Supervisors Approve Temporary Shelter for Homeless during Rains
A plan to provide emergency shelter beds for the homeless during El Niño rainstorms at the unused Santa Ana Transit Terminal was approved Friday by the Board of Supervisors in a special meeting held so the beds could be prepared before expected weekend rain.
By a unanimous vote of those attending, Board of Supervisors Chairwoman Lisa Bartlett, Vice Chair Michelle Steel and Supervisor Shawn Nelson approved an interim lease with the Orange County Transportation Authority for short-term use of the terminal. The plan was authorized earlier this week by the Federal Transit Administration, whose approval was required. Continue reading
The Supervisors will discuss the proposed DTSA homeless shelter tomorrow
The Orange County Board of Supervisors are conducting a special meeting tomorrow, January 29, 2016, at 3 p.m. at the Hall of Administration.
They will be discussing one item – the approval of a lease with the Orange County Transit District for emergency shelter services to the homeless during expected El Nino weather at the Santa Ana Transit Terminal, located at 400 W. Santa Ana Boulevard, Santa Ana. Continue reading
Feds approve use of vacant OCTA bus terminal in DTSA to shelter the homeless
Federal Officials Approve Use of Transit Hub to Shelter Homeless
A plan to shelter the homeless during El Niño rainstorms at the unused Santa Ana Transit Terminal in the Orange County Civic Center has been approved on an interim basis through June by the Federal Transit Administration.
The approval was delivered by letter today, two days after the Orange County Transportation Authority made the request on behalf of the County. The County opened escrow last month to buy the property from the Orange County Transportation Authority; a proposed lease for the interim use was sent last week to OCTA and required federal approval. Continue reading