Orange County native Steven Elizondo was hoping to get a shower, something to eat and a lead on a place to live when he stopped by Anaheim’s “community triage day” Tuesday, Dec. 19, in the parking lot of Angel Stadium.
Elizondo was one of dozens of homeless people, many of whom live along the Santa Ana River, who came to the first-time event that gathered 30 nonprofit groups, service organizations and public agencies to offer people assistance ranging from sandwiches and free haircuts to scholarships for drug treatment programs and free college courses.
The “triage day” was created as part of the city’s strategy to address the increasing homeless population and related problems. The City Council declared a state of emergency in September.
Councilwoman Kris Murray, who spearheaded the emergency declaration and the plan to fix it, said Tuesday’s outreach efforts included the service group Love Anaheim sending shuttles around the city to give people rides to the event.
During the daylong event,about 550 people spoke with service providers, including 180 who received some type of service and 50 who agreed to stay in a shelter, according to city spokesman Mike Lyster.
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