A settlement agreement has been reached between Santa Ana and Orange County over claims the city has disproportionately cared for the county’s homeless population.
In a statement from the city, Santa Ana public affairs information officer Paul Eakins told the Southern California Record an agreement with the county was reached to receive priority access to 125 beds at the county shelter on Yale Street under the guidance of U.S. District Judge David Carter.
“In the City of Santa Ana’s ongoing efforts to provide shelter and support to the homeless, we also work to ensure that other local government agencies do their part to help the unhoused,” Eakins said. “This will help us to better serve Santa Ana’s homeless population and better protect our neighborhoods.”
A Dec. 7 court order by Carter cited the agreement reached on sheltering the homeless population in the county, inviting the chairman of the county board of supervisors and the city’s mayor to attend a hearing on the approval of the settlement.
While at that time, the terms of the settlement had not been revealed, the Orange County website states the Yale Transitional Center where priority access to 125 beds will be held, is intended to provide shelter, meals, sanitary facilities, health care, mental health and substance abuse services, employment and housing assistance and access to case management to those experiencing homelessness.
The program is set to serve up to 425 individuals accessing shelter and supportive service at the Courtyard Transitional Center in Santa Ana, the website states.