By O.C. Supervisor Andrew Do
On Monday, the Orange County Board of Supervisors directed staff to use $70.5 million of Mental Health Services Act funds for supportive housing and shelter for our homeless.
The Board also directed staff to enter into contract with American Family Housing for a 12-unit unrestricted site that can accommodate homeless couples. Continue reading
Santa Ana, Calif. (March 15, 2018) – Orange County will audit more than $219 million in mental health spending in an effort to improve programs and better coordinate services with the county’s homeless response.
On Tuesday, the Orange County Board of Supervisors approved a performance audit to identify and review all county mental health programs funded through the Mental Health Services Act. In approving the audit, the County intends to streamline hundreds of mental health programs that serve residents, including the estimated 52,500 Orange County teenagers living with a mental health condition. Continue reading
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
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Date: February 27, 2018
SANTA ANA, Calif. – At the request of the Orange County Board of Supervisors, Orange County District Attorney (OCDA) Tony Rackauckas delivered a presentation to the Board today highlighting the success of the Orange County Auto Theft Task Force (OCATT).
OCATT is a multi-jurisdictional law enforcement program that works to investigate, arrest, and prosecute criminals in Orange County responsible for professional-level auto theft rings. The task force has operated in Orange County since 1993 and has successfully contributed to a 55 percent decrease in auto theft across the county since its creation. Continue reading
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
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
Actions Taken Today to Help the Homeless
Today, the Orange County Board of Supervisors took several actions to help the homeless: Continue reading
Chairman Andrew Do and Vice Chairman Shawn Nelson directed the Orange County Health Care Agency to use $15 million of available unspent Mental Health Services Act (MHSA) funds for mental health housing projects. This funding is aimed at increasing the number of mental health housing units available in Orange County to house chronically homeless individuals with severe mental illnesses.
The directive was introduced by Chairman Andrew Do and seconded by Vice Chairman Shawn Nelson, both of whom have worked collaboratively to bring this to the Board of Supervisors. The Board approved the motion unanimously. This additional funding will be critical in completing future projects for MHSA Housing. Continue reading
Supervisor Andrew Do Elected 2018 Board Chairman
Supervisor Shawn Nelson Will Serve as Vice Chair
Santa Ana, Calif. (January 9, 2018) – Supervisor Andrew Do, First District, has been chosen unanimously by his colleagues to serve as Chairman of the Orange County Board of Supervisors for 2018. Supervisor Shawn Nelson, Fourth District, will serve as the Board’s Vice Chair. Continue reading
Andrew Do – Supervisor, First District, Board of Supervisors
County Approves Plan to Help Homeless on the Riverbed
On Tuesday, the Board of Supervisors (Board) approved the homeless ad-hoc committee’s proposal to create a six month pilot program, which is designed to position the County as the lead in providing the Continuum of Care services needed to assist our citizens out of homelessness.
The homeless ad-hoc committee consisting of Supervisor Do and Supervisor Spitzer proposed this pilot program as a step towards a comprehensive plan to end homelessness, especially in encampments around the County. Continue reading
A vacancy on the Orange County Veterans Advisory Committee has been filled by Marine Corp Veteran Mario Munoz, appointed by Supervisor Andrew Do. Munoz will represent the First District of Orange County on the committee.
Mario Munoz is a post-9/11 Veteran and Orange County native that served in both Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom. He attended Santa Ana High School, Santa Ana College, and California State Dominguez Hills for Ecology and Environmental Science. Continue reading
(Santa Ana, California) — When it comes to tackling homelessness, Orange County isn’t resting on its laurels.
One week after delivering on Supervisor Andrew Do’s promise to open a new homeless shelter within 30 days, the Orange County Board of Supervisors has tapped $1.2 million in state emergency grant funding for homeless shelters and rapid re-housing programs. Continue reading
Orange County Supervisor Andrew Do is hosting a Town Hall meeting on Oct. 15, 2016 about Homelessness, from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. at the County of Orange, located at 333 W. Santa Ana Blvd., in Santa Ana.
In the past year, Orange County has taken major steps to help the homeless and end the cycle of poverty:
• Appointed a New Homeless Czar to Cut Red Tape
• Supported Housing Assistance for Homeless Veterans
• Opened an Emergency Shelter in Santa Ana
• Improved Patient Access to Mental Health Programs
• Broke Ground on the County’s First Year-Round Shelter Continue reading
Transitional Center for Civic Center Homeless Readied for Opening
Comprehensive Civic Center Survey Released
Two contracts for the operation of a round-the-clock transitional center with emergency shelter beds and enhanced services will be considered Tuesday by the Orange County Board of Supervisors for the former Santa Ana Transit Terminal, which has been renamed “The Courtyard.”
The plan to use the former terminal was proposed by Supervisor Andrew Do at a special Board meeting earlier this month, with a directive to open the center within 30 days providing access to showers, food programs, storage and comprehensive service referrals. Public restrooms have been available at the former bus terminal since 2009; in August, the County installed additional portable toilets. Continue reading
The Santa Ana City Council unanimously approved their new Civic Center Safety and Security Program at their meeting last night, according to the O.C. Register.
Two weeks after City Council members declared a “public health and safety homeless crisis” at the Civic Center, they’ve approved a program with the county to enhance safety and security in the area. Continue reading