Lack of sufficient work to afford shel- ter is another contributing factor. Tis may be due to various reasons such as physical disabilities which make it diffi- cult to work, sudden loss of a job and no savings to fill the gap, lack of skills that match opportunities available in the marketplace, age discrimination, lack of appropriate workplace clothing, lack of transportation, low wage jobs which don’t pay enough to make rent, etc.


Housing and rent prices continue to rise.


You may be surprised to learn that nearly 1 in 5 California residents is considered “poor” and more than 4 in 10 households spent more than 30% of their income on housing in 2015 (L.A. Times, 1-14-18). The lack of availability of affordable housing, and people barely scraping by paycheck to paycheck, makes even many middle- income people vulnerable to the threat of homelessness.


You might also be


shocked to know how many people live in their cars, park their cars or RV’s with friends and use local health clubs or association common area facilities for daily hygiene activities.


Lack of a social support system makes a difference in many cases. We are a mo- bile society and many people live far from family and close friends.


If you are elderly, there may be few friends 8 | March / April 2018


or family left. When adversity strikes, some people find they have no place to turn that is close by, and aren’t aware of the available county resources.


Dangers Associated with Homelessness


There have been instances of theft and violence and even fires. There are also many health- related concerns such as urine and feces, sewage, discarded nee- dles, and recent outbreak of Hepatitis A originating in the homeless popula- tion.


Unfortunately, there is definitely a criminal element among the homeless. That, and the understandable fear and complaints from county residents with concerns about their safety have cre- ated the need for a law enforcement re- sponse. “[M]any American communi- ties are criminalizing homelessness … [,issuing] infraction tickets [imposing] fines and fees that many homeless peo- ple can’t afford, which can lead to mis- demeanor criminal records that make it even more difficult for homeless people to get jobs and housing… .” (Time- sOC, 12-24-17). It’s a vicious cycle.


Resources for the Homeless Population


Orange County hired Susan Price as Director of Care Coordination in mid-


2016. She is known as the “home- less czar” and is focused on building an integrated system of care, creating a climate where all stakeholders can work together more effectively to solve homelessness. She believes that, “Solu- tions to homelessness are largely com- munity driven, including partnership between the County and the Cities, working together with housing devel- opers, service providers, and concerned citizens alike.”


“Currently, under the umbrella of a municipal, county and regional task- force spearheaded by the Association of California Cities-Orange County, multiple parties with different roles and responsibilities are advancing a comprehensive framework that can be supported from the ground up by elected officials and the public.” (Or- ange County Register, 1-31-18)


Here are some of the resources avail- able to address the problem of home- lessness:


2-1-1 can be accessed by phone or computer, 24 hours a day. It’s a central point for public information, including in times of disaster emergencies. This is a great place to start to see all of the resources available In Orange County: https://www.211oc.org/


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