What holds the community together when it seems like it’s all crumbling around? In our Neighborhood Visit to Santa Ana we had a chance to explore this question and see where the city and its people’s assets and risks stand.
We arrived in Santa Ana and walked up the street to Civic Center to begin our service by feeding the homeless. In the short walk the city was clean and had lot’s of trees with a new business being built. There were many nice restaurants to serve the businesses surround the area. There were no churches, schools or social service agencies. Overall it seemed like the average down town in any other city.
However, as we approached the park to feed the homeless the lunch line came into focus and you could see folding tables with people serving lunch. These efforts were being led by Dwight from the Isaiah House a shelter for woman and children in Santa Ana and one of the city’s biggest assets.
The biggest risk in the City of Santa Ana comes from the city legislation working towards homelessness in a less than humanitarian way. Through city ordnances it was became a crime to be homeless more so than a social and community issue. Santa Ana is a resilient city and with new innovative programs like CHAT-H, this community will work towards eradicating homelessness.
~ Judy Valenzuela
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