Item 16 - OC Grand Jury’s Investigative Report, Findings, and Recommendations Regarding “How is Orange County Addressing Homelessness”

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How is Orange County Addressing Homelessness? 2021-2022 Orange County Grand Jury Page 15 •Navigation Centers in the cities of Laguna Beach, Fullerton, Buena Park, Placentia, Tustin, and Huntington Beach are providing critical shelter and services to the homeless. •Orange County’s Emergency Shelters, Yale, and Bridges at Kraemer are unique multi- service, low-threshold shelters run by PATH and Mercy House respectfully. •Outreach and Prevention work being done by City Net and city homeless liaisons are the front line in reaching the chronically homeless. •Permanent Housing is being developed by many entities overcoming various obstacles. The Grand Jury commends Jamboree Housing for their successful PSH units we toured, and the OC Housing Community Development department for their success in leveraging partnerships to create 2700 units of PSH. •The Salvation Army operates a low-threshold, comprehensive homeless shelter for the City of Anaheim and is in the process of building an adjacent apartment complex with permanent supportive housing. •US District Court Judge David Carter played an extraordinary role in bringing the cities and county to the table with the advocates and homeless to create change. His “hands on” approach demonstrated the compassion he expected of all. •Whatever It Takes (WIT) Collaborative Court is an initiative to help high risk, high need, convicted felons, to be successfully reintegrated into society. Coordinated resources and guidance are offered to complete a program of sobriety, housing, employment, counseling, relationship issues, and consistent healthy behavior. RESPONSES California Penal Code Section 933 requires the governing body of any public agency which the Grand Jury has reviewed, and about which it has issued a final report, to comment to the Presiding Judge of the Superior Court on the findings and recommendations pertaining to matters under the control of the governing body. Such comment shall be made no later than 90 days after the Grand Jury publishes its report (filed with the Clerk of the Court). Additionally, in the case of a report containing findings and recommendations pertaining to a department or agency headed by an elected County official (e.g., District Attorney, Sheriff, etc.), such elected County official shall comment on the findings and recommendations pertaining to the matters under that elected official’s control within 60 days to the Presiding Judge with an information copy sent to the Board of Supervisors. Furthermore, California Penal Code Section 933.05 specifies the manner in which such comment(s) are to be made as follows: (a) As to each Grand Jury finding, the responding person or entity shall indicate one of the following: (1) The respondent agrees with the finding.