Voice of OC (https://voiceofoc.org/tag/the-midnight-mission/)
The Midnight Mission, which runs the county’s new homeless shelter, prides itself on hiring formerly homeless people. But a few altercations have raised questions about employees’ lack of licensing for security work and their criminal histories.
The new shelter in downtown Santa Ana, known as the Courtyard, has helped provide a safe place for hundreds of homeless people to sleep at night. But problems have come along with the progress.
The good feelings Igmar Rodas had for the Courtyard Transitional Shelter in downtown Santa Ana when it opened in October have given way to disappointment after run-ins with the center’s staff.
Questions mount as more staffers working for county Supervisor Todd Spitzer abruptly exit. Meanwhile, county officials remain mum on developing real housing options for people living on the streets.
Igmar Rodas, an outspoken member of the homeless community at the downtown Santa Ana Civic Center, spent a week chronicling his visits to the homeless shelter and service center the county just opened at the old downtown bus terminal.
Orange County First District Supervisor Andrew Do spent the night at the county’s newly opened homeless shelter and service center in downtown Santa Ana last Thursday. He said he “learned a lot” from the experience.
A plan by county officials to turn an abandoned bus depot into a service center for homeless people at the Civic Center is drawing cautious praise from some homeless advocates. But others are wary, including one advocate who says it will make the problem worse.
The Los Angeles-based non-profit The Midnight Mission will receive up to $1.4 million over the next year to run a 300-bed shelter and service center at the now-shuttered Santa Ana Transit Terminal adjacent to the Civic Center.