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Case 8: <br />Document 158 Filed 04/26/18 Page 9 of 27 Page ID #:2487 <br />2 <br />3 <br />4 <br />5 <br />6 <br />7 <br />8 <br />9 <br />10 <br />I <br />t2 <br />13 <br />14 <br />15 <br />16 <br />17 <br />1s <br />19 <br />20 <br />21 <br />22 <br />23 <br />24 <br />25 <br />26 <br />27 <br />28 <br />near -constant law <br />enforcement presence in the <br />Civic Center. <br />Santa Ana police <br />provided homeless <br />outreach services and faced <br />quality of life <br />issues, a suicide <br />attempt, physical assaults, petty crimes, and investigating a homicide, among a <br />variety of other issues. City personnel also undertook extraordinary health and <br />safety measures, including the collection of abandoned, used, uncapped <br />hypodermic needles, disposal of human waste left in public areas, increased <br />maintenance services to confront excessive trash, and the implementation of weekly <br />power washing to minimize Hepatitis A and other health concerns — all at Santa <br />Ana's expense. <br />52. Homeless individuals are intentionally or unintentionally abandoned <br />within Santa Ana by various means. Some are transported for services to Santa <br />Ana and left without a plan for return transportation to the city of origin. Other <br />homeless individuals are brought to Santa Ana for shelter and essentially remain in <br />Santa Ana if that housing solution ends. For others, it is believed they are simply <br />transported to Santa Ana by neighboring agencies and ultimately abandoned. <br />Regardless of the intent as to how or why homeless individuals are brought to Santa <br />Ana, the impact is severe and burdens its residents. <br />53. Despite the wealth and considerable size of Orange County, the only <br />low barrier emergency shelter is found in Santa Ana. In fact, the County placed the <br />sole emergency shelter known as "The Courtyard" in Santa Ana and within <br />proximity of sensitive land uses such as nearby residences, several schools, and two <br />public libraries. The Courtyard provides shelter for upwards of 400 individuals on <br />a nightly basis irrespective of weather. The dramatic need for shelter is <br />exemplified by individuals camped on the sidewalk across the street from The <br />Courtyard when it closes its doors to individuals because of overcrowding. The <br />living conditions themselves in The Courtyard have come under severe criticism <br />due to overcrowding, exposure to the elements, and the lack of privacy for women. <br />