We have lately been discussing how shelter options are one of the most difficult aspects of homelessness. Aside from living on the streets, many homeless people create their own encampments and provide a place to come back to at the end of the day. Last month, an encampment along the Santa Ana River in Orange County was cleared out, evicting and re-displacing between 700-1,500 people (as we know, these counts are vast and inaccurate). Many of the homeless were placed in motels and given 30 days to figure something out. This week, a court hearing was held and it was ruled that the motel stays can be extended providing that adequate housing arrangements would not be available at the end of their stay.

This provides a problem because many of these people do not want to go to shelters. We have learned that shelters can mistreat those living there, with dirty conditions and abuse and control. One woman from the Santa Ana River encampment said “I don’t want to go to a shelter… At least at the riverbed there was freedom. I feel like I’m being punished for something”. Her time at the motel is almost up, and she is to be referred to an emergency shelter; yet she would rather be outside than in a place where someone could control her.

The Judge granted the motel stay extension, but provided his congratulations to those who cleared the encampment. He wants another encampment cleared within the next few weeks, this one at the Santa Ana Civic Center. I think this upcoming eviction is just going to add to the issue, but I hope they will be able to come up with a better solution for these people they are about to kick out.

Citation: https://www.scpr.org/news/2018/03/17/81751/it-stops-now-judge-demands-oc-find-solution-for-70/