Voice of OC (https://voiceofoc.org/category/topics/housing-homelessness/)
Orange County is on track to form a regional agency to build housing units aimed at helping curb the growing homeless crisis after Gov. Jerry Brown signed key legislation Tuesday.
South Orange County also is set to be brought into the federal case, as the judge expressed frustration at the lack of a south county shelter site.
A federal appeals court this week supports what U.S. District Judge David O. Carter has been warning county and city leaders about for six months: If they don’t offer a realistic option for homeless people to stay overnight, police can’t enforce anti-camping ordinances. On Friday, Carter is bringing OC civic leaders back to court to gauge progress.
Prior “point-in-time” counts – which play a key role in policy and funding decisions – are actually estimates, officials now say.
AB 448 would create a regional agency to finance 2,700 homes for homeless people. It cleared the state Legislature unanimously last week, on the same day Heather Stratman suddenly left her job.
Federal judge David O. Carter has warned cities against pushing homeless people to other areas, saying it raises constitutional issues.
West Anaheim’s Maxwell Park is facing a spike in homeless people staying in and around the park and homeless-related crimes, according to Anaheim Deputy Police Chief Julian Harvey.
An “epidemic” of homelessness, low wages and the steadily increasing cost of living and housing makes Orange County one of the least affordable places to live in the nation, according to the annual Orange County Community Indicators Report.
The program faces staunch opposition from the county and the four cities where the state authorized it to operate. A court hearing on whether to block it could come later this month or next month.
U.S. District Court Judge David O. Carter warned the County of Orange and its cities they will need to make significant progress on plans for new emergency shelter housing for the homeless, or face a possible court ruling or temporary injunction stopping the enforcement of anti-camping laws.