65A - JAIL REUSE STUDY - Laserfiche WebLink

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Opportunities - The general bed space contained in the detention facility could be remodeled and converted to a homeless shelter that potentially serves up to half of the City of Santa Ana's growing homeless population based on recent census data. The City's entire homeless problem still will not be solved. - Development of a homeless shelter with a day center emphasis would help reduce loitering, panhandling, and public nuisance issues that many citizens consider a great concern with the community's large number of homeless individuals. The proposed homeless shelter concept plan for the reuse of the Jail mirrors the community's new Courtyard project in its capacity, operations, and services being made available to local homeless populations. The Courtyard is a joint venture between the Midnight Mission in Orange County sleeping up to 400 people on a first-come, first -serve basis. During the day, it is used as a drop-in center serving 250-400 guests looking for service connections, hygiene services, showers / restrooms, a meal, and a place to rest. Storage is provided for guests and security is provided around the clock. - Several other counties across the country have converted detention facilities into homeless shelters to serve their surrounding communities. The Bent County, Colorado Department of Local Affairs, for example, estimates that housing homeless in their vacated jail essentially saved them half the expenditures than if they lived on the street. Negative Impacts (Threats) - The shelter would be located adjacent to a 1,900 stall public parking garage which homeless individuals may take shelter in during inclimate weather if the temporary shelter is full. - The shelter would have a large daily concentrated movement of homeless individuals in and out of the facility. - The shelter would likely not be conducive for families that want to stay together or individuals with infant children. - There will likely be major intense neighborhood opposition to the opening of a new homeless shelter serving several hundred individuals. - The homeless shelter must address and potentially separate any persons with obvious mental health issues who may be prone to self -harm, especially if they are located in any mezzanine areas of the facility. - Drugs, alcohol, and other weapons must be prohibited and residents should be searched when entering the facility to eliminated any potential contraband. Key Summary Observations The change / reuse of a facility from a jail to a homeless shelter has been done in other jurisdictions. The conversion of the City Jail to a homeless shelter would make use of all existing spaces including inmate housing, food service, medical, security, laundry, storage, and processing areas. The vehicle sallyport would be a good entry location because it could accommodate up to 300 people who potentially would be lined up down the 113 65A-120