Neighbors, Eli Home Begin Mediation

The Orange County Human Relations Commission has stepped in to mediate an ongoing dispute between an Anaheim Hills women’s shelter and a group of residents opposed to it.

The mediation process began last week, after the Anaheim City Council decided to drop its earlier action against Eli Home Inc. Carol Flynn, deputy city attorney, said she has not been asked to pursue additional investigations of the shelter since.

Council members had voted in May to see if the city had grounds to close the shelter, which had been operating in the upscale community since 1997 without a city operating permit. The city’s actions were prompted by neighbors’ complaints that the shelter was a poor fit for its location. On average, the home serves 15 to 20 residents at a time--women and their children, mostly victims of domestic abuse--said Richard Chavez, board member for the shelter.

Among the complaints were that the home was operating without a city permit, and that its play area was too small and too close to the street, said Gene Secrest, one neighbor.

The facility has never been cited by police or code enforcement personnel.

But a few weeks ago, the council decided to withdraw all actions against the shelter, deciding that it wasn’t a business and should not be required to have a conditional-use permit.

“Just like any family doesn’t need a [use permit] to live in their house, I think [the shelter] has a right to be there,” Councilman Tom Tait said. “I don’t think they’re a business, and they have a right to occupy their house.”

Neighbors opposed to Eli Home met Friday with the Human Relations Commission. Eli Home representatives are expected to meet with the commission this week. The commission got involved at the suggestion of Los Amigos of Orange County, a Latino-issues group, with the support of Eli Home officials.

The two sides will meet only after several separate meetings with the mediators, said Bob Cerince, a mediator with the commission. “We’re still wanting to maintain the integrity of the two parties by keeping the information confidential before we bring anyone together,” he said.

Neighbors said they hope to clear up some of their concerns about the shelter. In the past, they have questioned how the home’s funds have been used and asked the shelter to produce tax filings and other financial documents.

Debbie O’Neill, president of the Concerned Citizens of the Canyon neighborhood group, said she was confident that information would come out through mediation.

“I guess they have agreed to show [the documents] to the mediator,” she said.

Eli Home officials said they hope that mediation will bring peace to the shelter.

“We want the families of the home, the children of the home and the charity to not be harassed,” said Richard Chavez, an Eli Home board member.

Amin David said it was after his group, Los Amigos, approached the council, that the city decided to drop its action against the shelter. “We were pleased that they took this alternative to resolve a very delicate issue,” he said.