Board of Supervisors Chairman John Moorlach and acting Santa Ana City Manager Paul Walters Tuesday “gave each other tasks to pursue” in coming weeks in an effort to aid the large numbers of homeless adults who live in and around the Civic Center.
Walters serves on the county commission to end homelessness, and Moorlach is the commission chairman.
Moorlach wants the county to use an empty bus terminal across from the Civic Center as a shelter for homeless people. Santa Ana opposes it, because it wants long-term solutions to homelessness, not a permanent shelter that might attract more homeless adults to the area.
Moorlach said he and Walters agreed not to publicly discuss details of their luncheon discussion.
“There were no surprises,” Moorlach said but added, “We gave each other tasks to pursue.”
He also said: “Paul was wonderful. We had a good chat.” He added he didn’t want to give more detail other than to say, “We’re going to move forward on ideas and leave it at that.”
Each man represents a critical role in the county’s effort to end homelessness in 10 years. The county is a major funnel for federal and state dollars that could finance mental health, housing, jobs, and drug and alcohol programs. City streets currently house hundreds of adults, mostly men, with nowhere else to sleep.