Last month, Operation Home S.A.F.E. was unanimously approved by the Anaheim City Council. This program declared a state of emergency in our city and put in place an action plan to address health and safety impacts of homeless encampments along the Flood Control Channel in Anaheim and surrounding areas. The focus is to collaborate with the County of Orange and invite cooperation among all Orange County cities to address this regional problem.
At last night’s Anaheim City Council Meeting, city staff gave a comprehensive update on the status of Operation Home S.A.F.E. The County and City are working together to provide services to the homeless living in these encampments, restore public safety along the riverbed, and return bike paths and park spaces for use as a recreational area for all Orange County residents. There is still much work to be done but progress is being made!
Monthly Performance Report
City staff gave the first Monthly Performance Report
Operation Home S.A.F.E. and provided a presentation to the council.
Highlights included:
- Appointment of Kristine Ridge, Assistant City Manager, as our city’s single point of contact to lead homeless programs in Anaheim.
- “Kick-off” meeting held on October 10th with participation from the County of Orange, neighboring cities, faith-based and non-profit service providers.
- Joint Enforcement – since September 15th, a joint Orange County Sherriff’s office and city law enforcement task force began providing an around the clock presence in the flood control channel, resulting in 172 arrests.
- Expedite additional beds/services – Fullerton Armory expected to open early on Nov. 16 with 200 additional beds.
- Establish Community Triage Day – Working to build inventory of resources for mobilization on potential dates within the next 60 days
Also, according to the staff’s report, the County of Orange recently provided an inventory of shelter services and beds in Anaheim’s service area, detailing more than 2,500 available, broken down by category. Anaheim is working with the County to identify space for up to 500 additional emergency shelter beds.
Staff also reported that the County of Orange is providing comprehensive services in the Flood Control Channel, with the following updates:
- More than 2,500 outreach contacts, 148 referrals for services, 94 successful exits from the riverbed.
- 24-hour restrooms, with security presence during nighttime hours.
- Hepatitis A vaccinations at 20 locations throughout the county.
Finally, staff is preparing a potential funding plan based on county, state and federal sources for supplemental resources and will bring it to council for consideration in the near future.
Collaboration is the Key to Success
Councilwoman Kris Murray
Encampments along the Santa Ana River Trail (SART) and other areas have escalated to a state of emergency affecting most Orange County cities and the County and we need to work together to ensure the encampments do not shift from one city to another.
Operation Home S.A.F.E. was developed as a template that could be tailored to meet the unique needs of each city. We have involved neighboring cities in the implementation of Anaheim’s program and I will be reporting on this program at the Orange County Council of Governments board meeting on October 26th.
The purpose of Operation Home S.A.F.E. is to address the immediate crisis caused by encampments in Anaheim and county-wide. The program is not intended as a long-term solution or to supplant ongoing efforts to serve our homeless population led by the County of Orange and other stakeholders.
By providing comprehensive and restorative services to the homeless, with concurrent enforcement of all health and safety laws, together we can reclaim the riverbed and surrounding neighborhoods for all residents in Anaheim and Orange County.
You all need to promote this place…forget about sticking taxpayers with this bill..#GoogleVoluntaryism
http://offthestreetsnow.com/hb/
Thank you for that, Erik. Time for Off The Streets-Anaheim.
Thank you for all you are doing, however there has been an increase in the last month of homeless on the riverbed at the Imperial exit off the 91 fwy. They have built a camp in the trees and put tents in the storm drain. Please have someone patroll this area, I will not walk the bike trail any longer. Once again thanks for all you do.
Out of 2500 outreach contacts only 148 were referred for city services and 94 packed out looking for a new place to occupy? Call me criticle but, aren’t those numbers kind of weak. And the claim that your outreach efforts touched a few thousand souls and cultivated only serface-level numbers of those willing to participate in detox\rehab treatment? Who’s footing the cost for the uninsured for a 30-90 day treatment program to enclude meals, meds, psychotherapy and transportation to and from AA and NA meetings?
Have the managers and staff been identified for shelter facilities and have the required permit applications been submitted as required? And where does the Assistant City Manager, Ms. Ridge fit into the mix or is she just another scape goat to slaughter should the project stall? if the mediocre cadre of ill-prepared, and under-qualified straphangers claiming legitimacy as civil servants don’t find some hup-two mentoring, the city should seek the resignations of the worst performers and hold a special election for candidates with experience in government or the next best thing, folks with strong followership and team participation in a medium or large sized enterprise.
Lastely, I emphasize with Ms. Murray,s one man band status as the HMFIC of deconstruction efforts of the lawless, filthy encampments that threaten the Health and Safety of all involved actors be them homeless or responsible problem solvers. The jig is up, we all should be reminded that a city as important as Anaheim can’t run on it’s own. Lead, Follow or Unass the area. That is all.
If there are 2500 beds available, why is there an issue. If only 400-500 folks are on the trail. Pack them up tomorrow and place them in the so called 2500 beds. I think that there needs to be a better breakdown of these numbers. Also when the shelters open, where will the folks be bussed to. Remember shelters close at 6am or so. DO NOT BUS THEM TO LA PALMA PARK. DO NOT HAVE A BUS PICK UP THERE EITHER. The idea is wonderful, however, it seems most folks are denying services. Do not coddle, if they deny move them out immediately. This has gone on to long and there is no end in sight.
We seem to forget, that the ‘homeless’, are real people with real issues, and most importantly names. Yes, there are bad ‘homeless’, as well as good ‘homeless’ persons. Mrs. Murray has made an attempt to do something, and something is better than nothing; it however may not be enough.
Anaheim and Mrs. Murray made an attempt to do something to help this problem and as Anaheim goes, other cities followed suit.
Every citizen who has positive suggestions, then come to the Anaheim Homeless Community meeting at the Unitarian church Monday November 6th, at 4:30 pm, and work with the volunteers who are quietly making a difference.
Williams for Anaheim Mayor
Robert:
During your council campaign last year, you supported repealing the ordinance against camping in city parks, and supported opening park bathrooms 24/7 for use by the homeless. Do you still hold that position?
Mr. Williams, you sound like you’ve an old hat at riding the Anaheim City Gravy Train. It’s been my experience that old dogs do not learn new tricks, just as mediocre ex-civil servants don’t expand their tolerance for the critical examination and discovery process of bold new suggestions by fresher, less cynical members of the governing body.
Besides the off the shelf, out of the can claims of your visionary more muscular approach at running a city as important as Anaheim, how about a detailed point-paper on your priorities and resurrection plan for this unique jurisdiction during your first term in office? What do you say, boss!
Someone needs to come over to State College and La Palma and do something about the Herion addicts situation there. The’re urinating and defecating on the streets, trash is everywhere, drug needles are everywhere it’s a really sad situation. They’re also shoplifting in all the stores to support their horrible addiction. It’s time something gets done before the whole thing turns into a major health hazard which it probably already is. Having to smell urine and stepping over piles of crap is not a good thing for the city.
ANYONE who wanted the bathrooms at the parks opened 24 hours, or voted against the anti camping ordinance is an obvious fool. Please leave our city. We need to try and make it right again. That would never have helped. In ANY way.
Jose Moreno just tried to sell this idea of 24 hour park bathroom access last week. We the employees attempted to explain how dangerous this is to us. I don’t think he wanted to listen to us though.
City Employee: Please continue to expose what Jose Moreno is up to, Anaheim residents need to know. You are very appreciated as it is a major help to OUR city.
Thank you Kris!
Kris, where is the breakdown of the 2500 beds that are available in Anaheim. Still waiting to see this. The report from your committee said they were available. Where and when. Also no response to where the folks will be picked up or dropped off when shelter opens. Would like an answer. And not LA PALMA park or anywhere near there.
Anaheim leadership has NO BACKBONE that is why the homeless are protected by the court on the SART. They wait and “study” and discuss amongst themselves or their “task force experts” and then wait and think and study some more, then pay a company and study them, then wait and think and discuss some more, pay a few more groups to think and discuss….on and on. They only act when the people who are looking for help, pleading for help, begging for help, start SCREAMING FOR HELP. When the people could not take the dangerous, unhealthy environment any longer they went public with their plight. The Anaheim City Council then decided to make it look like they were helping. What has been done, really done? Stop blaming anyone else but yourselves. The homeless in Anaheim remain under the court’s protection because they know they are up against an group of people that clearly can’t stand together and lead Anaheim in a good direction. The homeless and their advocates know that Anaheim is so weak they can’t or won’t make a decision and stand behind it. Anaheim’s leadership is weak and there indecisive weakness shouts to all come to Anaheim, we are kind. Where are our fellow kind cities what good came of joining this club? Just who is Anaheim kind to, it is not its citizens.
Make America Great Again!
Anaheim Residents need to banging the drum on this issue. We cannot allow this to issue to be out of the spotlight or it will remain. We must care about each other, especially those living, and working near the SART. They should not have to live in fear or risk their safety or illness just because our leaders will not lead and protect them. We must help them. The data shows that help is available and is being refused. Now it is time to insist that all people must keep the laws, even the homeless. We need to keep this front and center for the aforementioned people and the people wanting to use the SART.
We need to keep this terrible situation out in the open and SHAME our leaders into action.
“All we got were these damn pretzels” I can’t get this out of my head and wanted to share an experience last night during Trick or Treating. I wished I had said something and I am ashamed to say I stayed silent.
Some kids were dressed in costumes and having fun trick or treating. I was following behind the group and I overheard the groups conversation. They did not come from the immediate neighborhood but had traveled to the area to continue trick or treating. One of the parents said very loud, “I walked all this way and all I got were these damn pretzels.” The parent was saying it in front of her kids who seemed not to care what they got they were trick or treating. The parent kept it up, “Who gives pretzels? I don’t want no stinking pretzels.”
I got back to my house and repeated the story and voiced how I wished I had said you should not complain about something given freely in the spirit of the holiday. You should not teach that ungrateful lesson to your children. I wanted to say look at your kids they are grateful and having fun.
It made me sad because on a small scale it reflects our bigger picture. Give me. I want something else.
Anaheim: Well said!!
Can you imagine the life these people in the riverbed have chosen, and when offered something better, they flat out refuse. It’s like handing them a sandwich and they answer “nope, I want money.” Or in one case with me years ago after I offered food, she asked “well, what kind is it??” Obviously holding out for better.
Lately the ones with stolen pets are using them to lure people over. My daughter posted a video of her petting this transients cat on his lap. I was livid. This guy repeats “you can pet him if you want” to anyone who looks at him in his wheelchair in front of Target on Knott and katella.
I wonder how he ended up with that cat, and if he can’t feed himself, how people feel about him asking your kids when you aren’t around.
Pretty muniipulative.
I have had enough.
Westanaheimer: Totally agree. If I was asked for money outside of an establishment I would offer food. Most times I was told I don’t want food I want money. They have become coddled and often aggressively try to bully you into giving in to them. This is evidenced by the data presented showing what percent has taken the help and what percentage has refused the help out of the Riverbed.
83% REFUSED HELP That means only17% accepted a hand up. They would rather dictate the terms and those terms will be, We will do what we want, where we want and when we want. We will take over land that is not ours and divide it into named streets. We will take/steal what we want. Take illegal drugs when and where we want. Throw our needles and trash where we want, We don’t want “no stinkin pretzels” We have so many options that we can pick and choose. We have people coming here to enable us to live like this. We have people giving us food, toiletries and speaking on our behalf, fighting for us to stay. Why not stay it is our right, We have the right to take away city land and claim it. We have the right because Hose Moreno the “brain” says so. Pinky who is in charge does whatever the brain says to do so no problem. We don’t have to leave the City of Anaheim says so.
BASTA, enough with the outlaws, enough with the handholding. You don’t want a hand up then you will get locked up.
The City of Anaheim needs to start caring about the safety and well being of its RESIDENTS. We Vote and Hose Moreno you are out first.
How can we have the community help? This is a housing problem where the divide among the rich and the poor is most evident.
If we were homeless (God forbids) because we lost our home, job, mental health, etc., how would we like to be treated? How can we show some dignity and share resources with the needed within OC? I have no doubt that people do not come homeless by choice…
Please advise what means are we providing for this growing population… It could be you or I next!
Marlene
Those living on the SART that want help are getting it. Many are refusing the help offered. They then are subject to the law, maybe then they take the help they are offered, need and deserve.