THREAD:
Homelessness is a huge, intractable problem in Southern California. People say they want homeless people off public sidewalks, out of parks.
But residents often oppose new emergency shelters and permanent supportive housing.
Homelessness is a huge, intractable problem in Southern California. People say they want homeless people off public sidewalks, out of parks.
But residents often oppose new emergency shelters and permanent supportive housing.
Neighborhoods become battlegrounds. We’ve seen it in Venice. Koreatown. Irvine.
Where will we house the homeless if no one wants them in their neighborhood?
Where will we house the homeless if no one wants them in their neighborhood?
Reporter @jillrep has been looking into this question through the lens of one battle in Fullerton, CA.
The plan: An apartment complex with supportive services for 60 chronically homeless Fullerton residents. It’s a window into other NIMBY showdowns we’ve been seeing in SoCal.
The plan: An apartment complex with supportive services for 60 chronically homeless Fullerton residents. It’s a window into other NIMBY showdowns we’ve been seeing in SoCal.
The land is between a busy thoroughfare and 4 sets of railroad tracks. And it's surrounded by middle-class neighborhoods.
Spoiler: It imploded before the discussion really got started.
Spoiler: It imploded before the discussion really got started.
A few basic facts about homelessness in Orange County, according to a 2017 UC Irvine study:
- Nearly 70% of homeless people in OC are long-term residents, not out-of-towners.
- Top reasons given for becoming homeless: inability to find a job or affordable housing
- Nearly 70% of homeless people in OC are long-term residents, not out-of-towners.
- Top reasons given for becoming homeless: inability to find a job or affordable housing
- Providing supportive housing to a person experiencing chronic homelessness is ~40% less expensive than leaving them on the streets.
David Gillanders is the head of @pathways_of_hope, the organization that proposed the Fullerton housing complex.
Building housing for the homeless often requires intense outreach.
"Frankly, it’s dead in the water unless the neighbors are at least lukewarm supportive," Councilmember Greg Sebourn said at a city council meeting.
"Frankly, it’s dead in the water unless the neighbors are at least lukewarm supportive," Councilmember Greg Sebourn said at a city council meeting.
And some neighbors near the proposed site aren’t supportive. They showed up to city council meetings to speak out against the project.
One thing city leaders did to try and win neighbors over was take residents on a tour of permanent supportive housing in OC.
First stop: Rockwood Apartments in Anaheim. It's for formerly homeless families and individuals with a history of mental illness. They all get onsite case management.
Tenants do not have to be clean and sober to live here — which doesn’t sit well with the Fullerton residents.
Tenants do not have to be clean and sober to live here — which doesn’t sit well with the Fullerton residents.
People who have spent years on the street are much more likely to stay housed if you give them a roof first and then address addiction and other mental health disorders. This approach is called "Housing First."
Another stop: The Orchard in Santa Ana. It’s a 71-unit former motel that's been converted into housing for chronically homeless individuals and couples. It has stylish, eco-friendly landscaping and a huge community food garden.
One Fullerton resident on the tour, Gretchen Cox, noted that the developments don't seem to be magnets for people still living on the streets. But she wished there were an incentive for people to move on from permanent supportive housing and become more independent.
The number of people homeless in Orange County rose 13% from 2013 to 2017, according to the last official count. More than 190 homeless people died on Orange County streets last year.
In LA County, the number of people homeless went up 34% over that time period, though it has since dropped slightly.
An unusually large percentage of those experiencing homelessness here are unsheltered, meaning they live on the street.
California, as a whole, accounted for nearly half of all unsheltered people in the country in 2017, an estimated 91,642 people, according to @HUDgov.
California, as a whole, accounted for nearly half of all unsheltered people in the country in 2017, an estimated 91,642 people, according to @HUDgov.
One reason homeless aid organizations want to build supportive housing in residential areas is so that future tenants can be close to transportation, parks and other people.
Do these projects harm property values in nearby neighborhoods?
One study of permanent supportive housing in New York City found that these developments tended to have a positive effect on surrounding property values.
One study of permanent supportive housing in New York City found that these developments tended to have a positive effect on surrounding property values.
Fullerton residents took tours attended meetings and asked lots of questions about Pathways of Hope's proposed supportive housing development.
The end result?
Continued letters of opposition to city council, and loud voices at every council meeting.
The end result?
Continued letters of opposition to city council, and loud voices at every council meeting.
Barely a week before council was expected to vote on whether to negotiate with Pathways of Hope, the organization's director David Gillanders pulled the plug.
He says he didn't have enough votes on city council. Pathways may try again in 2019.
He says he didn't have enough votes on city council. Pathways may try again in 2019.
You can read our full story by @jillrep here: projects.scpr.org/interactives/f…
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