Orange County Homeless Count 2019
There are more people experiencing homelessness in Orange County than two years ago. This and other valuable information is found in the final report (7/2019) released by the Orange County January 2019 Point-in-Time count.
OC-Point-in-Time-count-2019-final-report
The Point-in-Time count (an actual headcount & survey) is a national mandate from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), intended to count the number of homeless people at a given point in time in a geographic region. This rich data lets the community better understand the nature and extent of homelessness and the characteristics of the homeless population. Key findings for the County show 2,899 homeless people in shelters, and 3,961 homeless people unsheltered on the streets, in cars, or elsewhere in Orange County. [VOC| Nick Gerda]
Working Toward Solutions:
Irvine provides support and resources daily to combat and prevent homelessness through the Irvine Police Department’s mental health team and homeless liaison officers; while also conducting enforcement efforts for public safety. However a major lawsuit filed by the Orange County Catholic Worker alleges certain cites (including Irvine) haven’t done enough to provide homeless shelters.
Costa Mesa and Tustin established shelter beds to avoid further litigation. North and Central Orange County cities recently approved a settlement agreement to build two homeless shelters in Buena Park and Placentia thus allowing anti-camping laws to be enforced for that region. [Courthouse News| Martin Macias Jr]
In South County, the Sheriff’s Department will not enforce anti-camping laws until shelter is made available in South County cities. Irvine and Laguna Beach have their own police department and are not subject to the settlement. The Board of Supervisors is working with the South OC cities to get shelters. [VOC| Nick Gerda]
South County cities are involved in a separate homeless lawsuit. On Monday (8/12) a federal judge in Los Angeles County ruled to drop Irvine and three other cities from the lawsuit because the judge ruled that those cites had been “misjoined” in a single legal action. Homeless advocacy groups may go back and amend their complaints. [OC Register| Walker]
The issue still remains – is South County providing enough homeless services and shelters in their cities to help the homeless people? Irvine was dropped from the pending litigation but the need for action remains.
PG. 29 City by City Head Count of the Homeless (sheltered & unsheltered)
