Orange County Supes Give Back To Needy, Homeless With Funds

ORANGE COUNTY, CA — It is the season of giving, and in that spirit, the Orange County Board of Supervisors Tuesday approved major funding for helping the area's homeless.

The Supes accepted more than $15 million in state funding for the care of the area's homeless residents and to approve more funding for restaurant meals for the county's needy.

The board approved $250,000 to expand the Restaurant Meals Program, which provides food to the homeless, elderly and disabled residents.

Board chairman Andrew Do noted that many of the area's needy rent rooms and have no place to store or prepare food, so restaurant meals are helpful to them.

The county has operated a pilot project since February that allows some residents who qualify to buy meals from local restaurants in Santa Ana and Anaheim. About three dozen Orange County restaurants have served about 6,000 meals in connection with the project, officials said.

The restaurant meals are an alternative for residents who cannot cook for themselves, don't have a kitchen or who are unable to get to grocery stores participating in the state's CalFresh program that offers healthy food for the needy.
With the additional money approved on Tuesday, the county's program can expand countywide. The number of restaurants expected to participate is expected to increase to 150.

The board approved a budget of $15.5 million as part of the Homeless Emergency Aid Program grant from the state. Placentia is expected to receive $5.6 million and Buena Park is expected to get $6.4 million to build shelters for transients.
In other action, the board approved the $12.25 million acquisition of an industrial building at 2229 S. Yale St. in Santa Ana from Omega Engineering Inc. County officials have not said what they intend to do with the building.

Supervisor Shawn Nelson said that whatever the county does with the building it should be done quickly.

Nelson pointed to how Santa Ana officials erected a new temporary homeless shelter in less than a month. City officials plan to keep that shelter open for about 18 months to 2 years before a new permanent facility can be developed with the county.

"Let's learn a lesson from the fact that things can be done quickly if there's a desire and effort to do them quickly," Nelson said. "When we get title to this, whatever the plan is, I encourage you all to jump on this thing and get it done. Time kills momentum on this stuff."

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City News Service, with Patch Editor Ashley Ludwig, contributing.