Orange County’s plan to house the homeless is collapsing left and right. One plan to house the homeless in a central park in Huntington Beach was roundly rejected merely two days after it was proposed. Citizens cited fears of crime and of economic repercussions and homeless proliferation lowered market values for properties. All this despite the fact that a homeless youth shelter has operated in the park for over a decade with no problem. Now Irvine and Laguna Beach have reacted similarly and backed out of their own shelter plans. As the county flounders interesting developments will come from the US District Court Judge who ruled that Orange County must find housing for these people.
Municipal and local reaction is typical I think and has to be expected. I just don’t understand what the county thought it was getting out of displacing hundreds of homeless folk. Maybe they thought no one would notice as those without homes were forced to leave and relocate elsewhere. if so, then they definitely were not expecting a judicial injunction on the issue. Perhaps the county thought that local governments and residence would acquiesce to new homeless shelters in their home towns. Regardless, this is really an issue that the county brought upon themselves. To this day I am unsure just why the county of Orange felt the need to forcibly displace them in the first place. Additionally, I wonder what people in Orange County will say as the tax payers are expected to foot what is no doubt an expensive bill to house hundreds of homeless folk in motels. Overall, the issue might seem comical, if not entirely frustrating.