One Step at a Time : Placentia homeless shelter’s careful expansion is exemplary

The Rev. Wiley Drake’s continuing conflict with the city of Buena Park over housing for the homeless has served to highlight a countywide need. With varying estimates of Orange County’s homeless population running into the thousands, the call for more and better facilities to deal with this problem tests the will and resources of an affluent region.

While a grand strategic solution to the problems of the homeless might be desirable, it may be more practical to expect that progress will be made in small steps, community by community. This is where a shelter in Placentia’s recent plans can be instructive.

The Homeless Intervention and Shelter House recently announced plans to nearly double the number of beds by next year. The plans are an indication of a growing need, and the shelter is to be commended for its response and its resourcefulness.

The shelter, known as H.I.S. House, can accommodate as many as 25 adults and children currently, but hopes to expand to 38 to 40 beds. The director, Patti Long, notes that the shelter has had to turn away people and wants to enlarge the kitchen, living area, and workroom to better serve the population.

The larger objective is to provide transitional assistance. Shelter residents can stay as long as four months and are expected to set and meet goals for self-sufficiency. The requirement is that people get a job and save money for future housing.

The shelter originally started even more modestly, with only 13 beds, and in 1992 added more. This incremental increase showed a determination to move ahead, slowly if need be, to meet a community need. There’s a lesson here for others: Start modestly, if need be, and expand later.

It is notable also that the shelter plans to meet the $218,000 expansion with a combination of federal and private grants and donations. This demonstrates some creativity in getting things done.

A week ago, the shelter had a community open house to thank supporters. But the thanks are also due the shelter itself. Through its incremental growth, and step-by-step planning and fund-raising, it has showed others around the county a way to deal effectively with the homelessness problem.