Another 31 people died “without fixed abode” in OC in March. Their names are:
Salvador GONZALEZ SOTO who died on March 1st in Orange
Angel ARROYO RUIZ who died on March 1st in Santa Ana
Toni VILLICANO who died on March 2nd in Santa Ana
Hector REYES JR. who died on March 3rd in Santa Ana
Jerry LOVESEE II who died on March 4th in Westminster
David DO who died on March 6th in Huntington Beach
Eric GARCIA who died on March 7th in Fountain Valley
Gustavo CHINCHILA who died on March 7th in Orange
Rafael RAMIREZ who died on March 7th in Fullerton
Arlene JOHNSON who died on March 7th in Tustin
Ja GARRISON who died on March 7th in Buena Park
Alexander ZABRODSKY who died on March 8th in La Habra
Isabel MARTINEZ who died on March 12th in Anaheim
Carlos LEMUS who died on March 13th in Santa Ana
Jesus ESTRADA CHAVEZ who died on March 13th in Fullerton
David MOTE who died on March 13th in Fullerton
William CARROLL who died on March 17th in Garden Grove
James BLACKMON who died on March 18th in Santa Ana
Sean WELLS who died on March 21st in Anaheim
Richard SPARKS who died on March 21st in Newport Beach
Charles CALDARONE who died on March 22nd in Mission Viejo
Carlo KING who died on March 22nd in Tustin
Henry WATTERSON, II who died on March 22nd in Anaheim
Abel MARIN who died on March 22nd in Orange
Jerry BEAS who died on March 22nd in Santa Ana
Mariano ESPINOSA ALVARADO who died on March 24th in Orange
Juan CORIA who died on March 24th in Anaheim
Jacy MILLER who died on March 28th in Irvine
Vicente LEAL SANCHEZ who died on March 30th in Fountain Valley
Aaryn REYES who died on March 30th in Orange
Michael MCCALLUM who died on March 31st in Newport Beach
The rate, still 1 per day, is comparable to that of the pre-spike years of 2022-2023, but still higher than the pre-Covid years of 2019-2020.
The bigger concern that I’d have is that presently, no one can say what kind of funding there will be for services for both the already unhoused or those in danger of losing their homes.
The uncertainty of course affects everyone:
For our County’s residents, we can reasonably assume that the people we encounter unhoused today will remain so indefinitely.
For those who find themselves unhoused, they also need to understand that honestly no cavalry is coming for the foreseeable future. This would honestly be a good time to mend relationships that need to be mended, because there will be no help, or additional help in the foreseeable future.
Finally those who are staring at the prospect of becoming unhoused soon, please look for help now, while you still have a roof over your head. There still may be help for you now, however no one can say what will be available for you in the future.
And once again this is a time to improve relationships and to make alliances within families and among friends, because we honestly don’t know what is coming and there may be at least some disruptions in government entitlement services that one had previously counted on.
In the meantime another 31 “canaries in the coal mine” died this past month on our county’s streets.
Fr. Dennis Kriz, OSM, Pastor St. Philip Benizi Catholic Church, Fullerton.
Opinions expressed in community opinion pieces belong to the authors and not Voice of OC.
Voice of OC is interested in hearing different perspectives and voices. If you want to weigh in on this issue or others please email opinions@voiceofoc.org.