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Homeless Services Quarterly Report for October — December 2018 <br />March 19, 2019 <br />Page 6 <br />6. Santa Ana participates in Operation Dignity <br />On November 30th, 2018, City staff began a more concerted effort towards outreach and <br />engagement to address unsheltered homeless individuals in the City of Santa Ana. The Police <br />Chief's Incident Action Plan (IAP), was led by Santa Ana Police Department, Deputy Chief <br />Gominsky and Sgt. Juan Montiel with the focus on enhanced engagement and enforcement to <br />ensure all options provided for immediate shelter and supportive services were offered. The IAP <br />plan included the Quality of Life Teams, led by Public Works Staff, ensuring proper clean up and <br />disposal of items and Parks and Recreation Staff, to ensure safety storage of items. The IAP plan <br />included support from Community Development Agency Homeless Division in leading support <br />staff efforts to shuttle individuals experiencing homelessness to The Link. Executive <br />Management Directors were represented from several City Departments. The IAP plan involved <br />two shifts per day, 4am-fpm and fpm-10pm to engage the homeless population off the streets <br />and into safe shelter. The efforts concluded on December 6th, 2018 with a total of 147 homeless <br />individual enrolled in The Link. This interdepartmental team effort created a positive impact in the <br />community and was also attended by Federal Judge Carter, who expressed that this effort was <br />yet another best practice model initiated by City of Santa Ana to address homelessness and <br />increase the Quality of Life in the City. Additionally, Homeless Services Manager, Hafsa Kaka <br />has created a Referral Collaborative of services providers to utilize best practices in outreach and <br />engaging vulnerable populations with mental and medical health disparities to receive services at <br />the Link upon qualification. <br />7. Santa Ana receives visit from State of California Representative to tour The Link <br />On December 17, 2018, staff provided a tour of The LINK Shelter to Lahela Mattox, the State of <br />California Representative for the Homeless Emergency Aid Program (HEAP). The City of Santa <br />Ana applied for and received HEAP funds of $3,690,885.84 from the state to address the <br />immediate homelessness challenge as one of the Big 11 Cities experiencing homeless crisis. <br />The state representative was impressed by the infrastructure of the 200 bed facility in dormitories <br />to accommodate women, men, families with children and couples. The state representative was <br />also impressed by the supportive services on site, ADA accommodations, and the beautiful mural <br />of the facility enhancing human dignity and respect. The state representative informed staff that <br />The LINK will be highlighted in the States best practice tools and examples of emergency <br />shelters. The State representative also received an opportunity to visit The Orchard afterwards. <br />This showcased how emergency shelters can lead clients into successful permanent supportive <br />housing. Please see pictures attached. <br />8. Santa Ana receives visit from Senator Diane Feinstein's office to tour The Link <br />On December 19, 2018 Chris Barwick, representative for Senator Diane Feinstein's Office was <br />provided a tour of THE LINK. Senator Feinstein's office was impressed that the shelter was built <br />with great quality in just 28 days. The Senators office would like to highlight the shelter as a best <br />practice model providing supportive services and stable housing while mitigating negative <br />impacts to community. The Senators office would also like to highlight The City of Santa Ana as <br />national model on a City's ability to quickly build capacity to address the homeless crisis and <br />deliver positive outcomes <br />19E-6 <br />