Costa Mesa touts progress on fighting homelessness

Costa Mesa officials hailed the city as a leader in combating homelessness in Orange County while fielding residents' concerns about safety, funding and more during a public forum this month.

- BY ERIC LICAS

ERIC LICAS ABOUT 100 people attended Costa Mesa's town hall regarding progress made in combating homelessness.

(ERIC LICAS)

About 100 people attended the Homelessness Solutions town hall held Oct. 15 in the Norma Hertzog Community Center. Attendees mingled with public and nonprofit groups that provide support to people living on the streets before hearing a detailed presentation on the work they've been doing in the city.

Costa Mesa runs its own bridge shelter, and the city's street community outreach teams manage the cases of about 150 people each month. Since 2019, they've helped as many as 252 people who had been homeless get into some form of housing, according to the city's neighborhood improvement manager, Nate Robbins.

"It takes a special kind of person to get up every day and do what they do out in therain, inthe cold and meet people where they’re at,” Robbins said. “It’s not just work to them. They're not just checking boxes. They're out there loving on people and helping them move forward in their lives.”

The city will has also agreed to host two permanent supportive housing complexes, made possible with Project Homekey funds. Made from converted motels, the facilities offer subsidized affordable housing and support services such as job training or mental health treatment.