Anaheim To Pilot New Winter Shelter Model

Anaheim could soon offer new emergency shelter beds for people experiencing homelessness on cold, rainy nights this winter.

The Orange County Board of Supervisors approved an agreement Tuesday with the city of Anaheim to provide $150,000 for cots and other supplies to set up temporary shelters from February through mid-April.

Churches and other faith-based organizations would host the mini-shelters, with up to 15 beds each, for a total of up to 50 beds.

The pilot project, which still needs approval from Anaheim City Council, would be run by the organization Love Anaheim.

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OC's on-and-off winter shelter history

Overnight winter shelters used to be the only kind of shelter sponsored by the county. But officials and homeless aid groups have moved away from this kind of bare-bones model — essentially a cot, a hot meal and a deadline to move out in the morning — toward shelters that offer more comprehensive services, including case management and help finding housing.

Orange County now has more than 3,000 year-round shelter beds for people experiencing homelessness, according to Doug Becht, who heads the county's Office of Care Coordination.

Still, even after these types of shelters multiplied in O.C., starting in 2016, the county maintained two low-barrier shelters — meaning there are minimal requirements to get a bed — during winter months at the National Guard armories in Fullerton and Santa Ana.

That ended when the COVID-19 pandemic struck.

In 2022, the county put out a request for proposals to operate an emergency winter shelter, but got no takers. Then, in January 2023, the county struck a last-minute deal to open an emergency winter shelter at a community center in Fullerton, but the deal only lasted through last winter.

How did the winter shelter agreement come about?

Becht said he sent letters to the mayors of all 34 Orange County cities last fall to gauge their interest in partnering on smaller, more localized cold weather shelters. Anaheim was the only city that stepped up with a viable plan.

"Anaheim will hopefully be an example for next winter and future winters that can demonstrate to other cities how the city and county may be able to partner in providing a local inclement weather response to their city," Becht said.

Cold, rain will trigger shelter openings

According to Anaheim's plan, winter shelter sites will be spread throughout the city and operate from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. They will be activated "during overnight rainstorms, high winds, wind chill, severe thunderstorms, and temperatures below 45 degrees."

The city and Love Anaheim will publicize the openings on their respective websites and through the county's network of homeless services.

The shelter beds are intended for people with ties to Anaheim. According to the plan, homeless outreach workers will provide transportation to and from the shelter sites and "confirm Anaheim ties prior to transporting participants."