Santa Ana's top news & views blog

Santa Ana's top news & views blog

Tag Archives: homeless

Homeless man arrested after police find a woman’s body at Talbert Regional Park

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Costa Mesa Police Department

Advisory: Man arrested after police find woman’s body in Talbert Regional Park

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: February 28, 2018

COSTA MESA, Calif. – The Costa Mesa Police Department (CMPD) arrested a man today after the body of a woman was found in Talbert Regional Park.

At approximately 7:10 a.m., on Feb. 28, 2018, CMPD Dispatch received a call from a man advising he had found a female’s body in the Talbert Regional Park area. Police officers and detectives responded to the Talbert Nature Preserve, at 1299 Victoria Street, and located the male caller, identified as Daniel Correa, as well as the female’s body in the brush area nearby. Continue reading→

The new O.C. mental health facility will be located in Orange

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Homeless Response: In 24 months, Orange County will open $26 million mental health facility

O.C.’s first publicly-owned mental health treatment facility

Santa Ana, Calif. (February 28, 2018) — With its largest homeless encampment now dismantled, Orange County is moving forward with a $26 million investment in the county’s first publicly-owned mental health treatment facility, to be located at 265 S. Anita Drive, in Orange, CA.

On Tuesday, the Orange County Board of Supervisors approved the purchase of an office building in Orange that will be renovated into a treatment center for people with mental health and substance abuse problems. Continue reading→

Orange County paid $26M for property for a new mental health facility for the homeless

Posted on by Posted in homeless, Mental Health, Orange County, Santa Ana 1 Comment

Homelessness: Orange County buys property for $26 million mental health facility

Orange County purchased a property that will become the county’s first publicly-owned mental health facility.

As part of its long-term response to homelessness through the county-wide System of Care, the County of Orange is building a $26 million mental health facility that will provide emergency mental health crisis stabilization, drug abuse treatment, and long-term residential psychiatric care. Continue reading→

OC taxpayers paid to house 700 homeless people in local motels

Posted on by Posted in Crime, homeless, Orange County, Santa Ana 1 Comment

700 Homeless Individuals Along Santa Ana Riverbed Are Motel-Sheltered

The County has linked approximately 700 homeless individuals encamped on the riverbed to motels or shelters; clearing the Riverbed of all encampments.

Santa Ana, Calif. (February 26, 2018) — As of Monday, February 26, 2018, the individuals homeless individuals encampment on the Santa Ana Riverbed Trail has officially been cleared. This announcement comes after the County has ensured temporary shelter in the form of motel vouchers, shelter beds, and alternative housing placement for all individuals who were previously encamped along the riverbed. Continue reading→

The OC Sheriff will enforce trespass laws on the Santa Ana River Trail as of today

Posted on by Posted in Anaheim, Crime, homeless, OC Sheriff, Orange County, Santa Ana Leave a comment

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

OCSD to enforce trespass laws following the voluntary transition of homeless individuals encamped along the Santa Ana River Trail

SANTA ANA, Ca. (Feb. 26, 2018) – As of 2 p.m. today, all individuals encamped along the Santa Ana River Trail in the project area between Ball Road in the city of Anaheim and Memory Lane in the city of Orange have voluntarily complied with the request to relocate. The Orange County Sheriff’s Department will now actively enforce state trespass laws and will maintain high visibility patrols in the area. Continue reading→

Over 4,000 needles and more than 115.94 tons of waste were removed from the Santa Ana River Trail

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Supervisor Todd Spitzer returned to the Santa Ana River Trail (SART) on February 20 to hand out warm breakfast sandwiches he purchased as County employees worked to connect individuals with services.

Judge David O. Carter held a hearing in the field at the Santa Ana River Trail and lifted the temporary restraining order, allowing the County to resume removing the homeless population from the Santa Ana River Trail and continue the necessary environmental remediation project.

There are two exit doors, a) accept temporary shelter, assessment, and County services, or b) continue in the spiral of aimless existence and be removed from the river trail. Continue reading→

Orange County pays to house 477 homeless transients at local motels

Posted on by Posted in Anaheim, Crime, homeless, Orange County, Santa Ana 1 Comment

County Connects 477 Individuals Encamped on the Santa Ana Riverbed with Motels Stays, Shelter

Santa Ana, Calif. (February 21, 2018) — Delivering on its promise, the County of Orange and its contracted non-profit, CityNet, have connected 477 encamped individuals with motel stays and shelter since February 14, 2018.

Yesterday alone, which was the first day the Temporary Restraining Order was lifted by U.S. District Court Judge David O. Carter, Orange County Health Care Agency provided 180 homeless residents in the Santa Ana Riverbed with housing in motels throughout the County. These homeless residents also receive transportation services as well food vouchers for the duration of their motel stay. Continue reading→

California’s Big 11 Mayors and State Lawmakers announce Legislation for $1.5B to address the homeless crisis

Posted on by Posted in california, Civic Affairs, Crime, homeless, Miguel Pulido, Politics, Santa Ana Leave a comment

City of Santa Ana

Community: California Big 11 Mayors and State Lawmakers Announce Legislation for $1.5 Billion to Address Homeless Crisis

Santa Ana, CA – Today, the mayors of the eleven largest cities in California and a bi-partisan group of state lawmakers announced the introduction of AB 3171, which allocates $1.5 billion from the state budget to help address the growing homeless crisis. Assemblyman Phil Ting (D-San Francisco) and State Senator Ricardo Lara (D-Bell Gardens) will champion the effort in their respective houses.

“Homelessness is first and foremost a humanitarian crisis, but it is also the single greatest threat to the economic prosperity, opportunity and growth our cities are fighting for,” said Sacramento Mayor Darrell Steinberg, who leads the Big 11. “We are on the front lines of providing compassionate and effective solutions to this issue, and we request that our state partners make alleviating homelessness in our cities an even greater priority.” Continue reading→

Kaka hired to be the City of Santa Ana’s new Homeless Services Manager

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City of Santa Ana

Community: City of Santa Ana Announces New Homeless Services Manager

SANTA ANA, CA (February 12, 2018) – The City of Santa Ana welcomes Hafsa Kaka (pronounced Kay-ka), the City’s new Homeless Services Manager. Hafsa has made a career as a homeless services professional, working over ten years as a Social Worker providing a variety of services to individuals, including youth and adults experiencing homelessness. She will be joining us from the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority, where she served as the Coordinated Entry System Coordinator (CES). In this role, she provided oversight and guidance to various agencies in identifying and supporting system level gaps and barriers. She also coordinated community coalitions and networked with stakeholders to impact and facilitate policies and protocols within homeless services. In addition, Hafsa engaged in oversight and planning of permanent supportive housing projects integrated with CES throughout the County of Los Angeles. Continue reading→

A public court hearing regarding the Santa Ana River Trail cleanup is set for 2/13

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Public court hearing on Feb 13th in Santa Ana, please attend or send an email

O.C Residents United

Tuesday, February 13 is vital for re-claiming the Santa Ana River Trail (SART) for use and enjoyment by the public.

County of Orange enforcement efforts have reduced the number of tents in the SART homeless camp by 41% since January 22. Radical homeless advocates are suing in federal court to stop that effort and prevent the County and the cities of Anaheim, Orange and Costa Mesa from enforcing anti-camping and loitering laws on the SART and in city parks. Continue reading→

Update regarding the removal of the homeless from the Santa Ana River Trail

Posted on by Posted in Crime, homeless, Orange County, Santa Ana 2 Comments

Environmental Remediation Project Update: February 9, 2018

Santa Ana, Calif. (February 9, 2018) – Below please find updates on the environmental remediation project that required the County of Orange to temporarily close a portion of the Santa Ana River Trail from Memory Lane/Garden Grove Boulevard in Orange to Taft Avenue/Ball Road in Anaheim beginning January 22.

Project Status Updates: Continue reading→

An allegedly homeless woman was arrested on suspicion of starting a fire in Santa Ana

Posted on by Posted in Crime, Fires, homeless, OCFA, Santa Ana, SAPD 1 Comment

The same week that an Orange County Judge stopped the County of Orange from removing the homeless from the Santa Ana River trail, Marilyn Fajardo, a 26-year-old allegedly homeless woman was arrested in Santa Ana on suspicion of starting a fire that burned a tree, a storage container and two semi-truck trailers, according to the SAPD.

Witnesses told the SAPD that Fajardo had been seen at the scene at the fire, with a lighter. Continue reading→

The City of Santa Ana has launched a new webpage addressing homelessness

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SANTA ANA, CA (February 2, 2018) – The City of Santa Ana has launched a new webpage highlighting information, resources and efforts the City is undertaking to address and reduce homelessness. This new webpage consolidates helpful information and resources on this important issue in one convenient place. The link to the webpage can be found here: http://www.santa-ana.org/homelessness. Continue reading→

EBT card users will be able to purchase meals from participating O.C. restaurants as of 2/1

Posted on by Posted in Food, homeless, Orange County, Restaurants, Santa Ana, Seniors Leave a comment

Pilot Phase of Restaurant Meals Program Starts February 1st in Orange County

The pilot phase of the Restaurant Meals Program (RMP) will officially launch in Orange County on February 1, 2018 in participating restaurants in the cities of Anaheim and Santa Ana. Upon launch, Orange County will become the ninth county in California to offer this program to eligible participants. Continue reading→

Santa Ana man charged with attempted murder and arson after attack on a homeless pair

Posted on by Posted in Crime, Fires, OCDA, Santa Ana, SAPD Leave a comment

ORANGE COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY NEWS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Case # 18CF0326

Date: January 30, 2018

MAN CHARGED WITH ATTEMPTED MURDER AND ARSON FOR SETTING FIRE TO TENT WITH HOMELESS MAN AND WOMAN INSIDE

SANTA ANA, Calif. – A man was charged with attempted murder and arson for setting fire to a tent with a homeless man and woman inside in Santa Ana.

Defendant: James Anthony Lawlor, 35, Santa Ana

Charged on Jan. 26, 2018, with the following felony counts: Continue reading→