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Orozco, Norma From:tamerou@aol.com Sent:Tuesday, May 04, 2021 5:19 PM To:eComment Subject:Homeless encampment on Ross St. Dear Councilmembers, I am having difficulty putting into words the extent of my dismay, anger, dissatisfaction with the City of Santa Ana and its lack of addressing this growing homeless problem near the heart of our City. A neighbor and I drove by there today. It was even worse than the original encampment, now covering both sides of El Centro. There are large piles of refuse and other "items" near the sidewalk on Ross St. I suspect that this trash also would include used needles and other drug items. This comprises a public health risk for all the residents of the City. The ongoing pandemic poses another threat to the City which does not have the highest rate of inoculations. This puts all of us at risk. Please be assured, I am not insensitive to the issues of homelessness. I worked with the SAPD Family Violence Emergency Response Team or several years. I worked with individuals who chose living in the park rather than continue in an abusive relationship. Those victims were largely women and many resorted to the streets because shelters at that time, did not take pets. We only had a shelter in the Carlsbad area that took pets. On one night, the officer and I spent 6 hrs...from 11 pm to 5 am until a woman was able to have all her pets safely housed. Then we took her and her children to a shelter. I did not notice individuals with pets on Ross St. today, but if this is a factor the City could and should address. IF many of these homeless are domestic violence survivors, the City must develop a plan to combat this aspect of the problem as well. Today, I noticed a number of younger (20's-40's) age males. It was difficult to assess in just a few minutes if this homelessness was a result of mental disorders or drug use. Another aspect the City should focus on in dealing with the homeless is to ascertain how many/if any of these men are veterans who may be eligible for services through the VA System. I have worked with individuals with mental disorders and chemical dependency for most of my career as an Associate Professor in the School of Medicine at UCI. I recognize that many people may not be amenable to services. However, I also know that the City cannot absolve itself of this problem. It is not just El Centro's issue--IT IS A CITY ISSUE THAT AFFECTS ALL OF US. I would suggest that the City--at the very least--form a committee to address the ongoing problem of homelessness. I would love to be part of such a committee. However, I suspect the City will continue to shift the blame solely to El Centro and do nothing. Respectfully, Patricia Lenahan Washington Square 9