Laguna Settles Homeless Litigation, Pioneer Homeless Work Lauded

LAGUNA BEACH, CA —The City of Laguna Beach proactively reached a settlement agreement with Orange County Catholic Worker, thereby avoiding costly and time-consuming litigation. On September 23, 2019, United States District Judge David O. Carter approved the settlement agreement between the parties.

Carter praised Laguna Beach officials, whose efforts to address homeless issues date back a decade. The judge accused neighboring cities of "dumping" their homeless populations at Laguna Beach's shelter.

Carter said Aliso Viejo in 2017 counted 28 homeless individuals in the city, but only one last year.
"What happened to the other 27 people?" Carter said, adding they all ended up in the Laguna Beach shelter.

Carter said Laguna Beach officials, "starting tomorrow," can begin efforts to place transients into shelters, and, if they refuse, they'll face jail.

"We're going to clean up your libraries, your beaches," Carter said. "Those who decide they don't want the shelter will go to jail."

There was no money or attorney fees changed hands as part of the settlement, just the agreement that Laguna Beach's handling of their resident homeless population is working.

Over the last decade, Laguna has worked to address homelessness with their Alternative Sleeping Location, according to City Manager John Pietig, a model that was considered favorable to the Orange County Catholic Worker and Carter.

The City will continue enforcement efforts and avail itself of the prescribed dispute resolution process that is much more effective and less costly than litigation, according to Pietig. In the council's assessment, Laguna

Over the past decade, Laguna Beach has run the low barrier, 45-bed emergency shelter within the City, commonly known as the Alternative Sleeping Location (ASL).

Until recently, the ASL was the only emergency shelter in Orange County owned and funded by a city.

Located at 20652 Laguna Canyon Road, the ASL is operated by the Friendship Shelter, the service provider.

ASL is a housing-focused enrollment program, offering 30-day renewable increments of time to homeless individuals actively pursuing a housing plan, with an enrollment preference provided to persons having demonstrated connections and ties to the local community.

They also have a separate day pilot program is available, with support staff, County mental health resources, laundry, hygiene amenities, computer/internet access, and connections to community-based services.

Over 200 individuals have transitioned to more stable housing arrangements, including reunification with families or friends, thanks to the efforts of the ASL and Friendship Shelter, according to Laguna Beach Mayor Bob Whalen.

"The City of Laguna Beach has been a pioneer within Orange County for this type of program, and this settlement only reinforces our ongoing commitment to providing appropriate support and programs," Whalen said.

Orange County Catholic Worker, an unincorporated association, is the main plaintiff in a January 2018 federal court lawsuit filed against the County of Orange and the cities of Anaheim, Costa
Mesa, and Orange regarding the clearing of homeless encampments along the Santa Ana River Trail.

Among other claims, Orange County Catholic Worker and the other plaintiffs challenged the enforcement of municipal ordinances that prohibit camping and lodging in public places on the basis that individuals being cited for violations of those regulations did not have alternative sleeping arrangements available to them. Since then, the issues and the parties involved in the litigation expanded, including the addition of numerous other cities within the county.

Under the supervision of Judge Carter, most of the cities in central and north Orange County have reached settlements with Orange County Catholic Worker that provide for the opening and operation of homeless shelters.

Carter said Laguna Beach shouldn't be "punished" for its "generosity" in sheltering the area's homeless.