By Brooklynn Wong
Over the last few weeks, several Anaheim city parks have been cleared of homeless encampments, as the offer has been made to move them to a temporary shelter that opened Dec. 20 at 2040 South State College Blvd.
Schweitzer Park, the areas around Gene Autry Way and Katella Avenue, a bus stop near the Anaheim Convention Center, Maxwell Park and La Palma Park are just some of the city’s areas that until recently had sizable homeless encampments. But through joint efforts on the part of nonprofit groups, Anaheim PD, Public Works, Code Enforcement, Community Services and Fire & Rescue, several have responded positively to the offer of shelter and the city’s public areas are being restored to their intended use.
This temporary shelter, operated by Illumination Foundation, is expected to stay open for 90 days. Many services are being offered there, including case management, counseling, and job assistance. Over 150 individuals are currently living there. Pets are allowed, and transportation is provided, as are a kitchen and wifi.
Two other temporary shelters are being built and are expected to open at the end of this month or next, expected to be able to hold 325 people between the two of them. They will be at 3035 East La Mesa St. and 1455 South Salvation Pl.
And The Salvation Army also has plans to build a nearby shelter that will accommodate 400-600 people.
The city hopes that offering people a spot in this temporary shelter will be the first step in transitioning them out of homelessness.
