The Anaheim Emergency Shelter is set to begin its services on February 1st, ran by the Salvation Army, near their Adult Rehabilitation Center on Lewis Street. The $13.1 million homeless shelter sitting on 1.7 acres will be able to accommodate up to 224 people. Currently with no set time limit on the length of stay, the goals of the shelter are to provide a safe place while giving assistance to those trying to rebuild their lives by providing aid for housing, employment, and substance abuse.
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The Anaheim Emergency Shelter boasts a range of services and amenities for its guests. Housing up to 20 single adults within one of its modular units, or up to 10 adults in units for couples, with laundry, restrooms, and showers being housed within separate units. The campus also boasts both indoor and outdoor recreation areas. Outside is a small park with picnic tables and games. A triple-wide unit houses meeting rooms, dining areas, as well as a lounge. Meals provided include hot breakfast and dinner, along with bag lunches for those who want it, provided by the rehabilitation center kitchen.
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The shelter is being run by Rosie Littlejohn, who prior to becoming the program manager for homeless services in Orange County for the Salvation Army, had gone through many of the same problems as her soon to be guests. Battling drug addiction, losing jobs, alienating the people she cared about, and being homeless herself. It was the Salvation Army who were the ones that assisted her on her journey to a better life, and she wishes to return the favor.
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No walk ups are allowed, the procedure into gaining access is based through referrals. Referrals are made through a few different avenues including Anaheim Police Officers, CityNet, Orange County Health Agency, Salvation Army as well as through the online channels.
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Although currently having no set time limit on how long one can stay at the shelter, it is intended to be a temporary shelter along with another soon-to-open 101 bed shelter across the street from Bridges at Kraemer Place. Officials see these developments as key to providing better homeless services and addressing public health and safety concerns. However, more long-term developments are already in progress. The Salvation Army plans to the Center of Hope up and running by 2021, which will be a large transitional housing development housing 600 beds.
