FULLERTON â In further efforts to bring state funds back to the people of Orange County, Assemblywoman Sharon Quirk-Silva (D â Orange County) secured $5 million from the 2018-19 State Budgetâs Building Homes and Jobs Trust Fund, to house and assist persons experiencing homelessness. The funds will be used to expand bed and support services for the homeless at the Bridges at Kraemer Place emergency shelter in Orange County. With these funds, the Bridges at Kraemer Place will serve hundreds of men, women, and children of North Orange County.
âSupporting a proven successful shelter, already in operation, is the logical first approach to confront the complicated issue of homelessness,â said Quirk-Silva. âWe need beds for people in responsible shelters, such as Kraemer Place. Supporting these shelters with a proven success rate will ease the burden put on our neighborhood streets, in times of crisis.â
Bridges at Kraemer Place in Anaheim is more than an emergency shelter. It has added services to help transition transients into more stable, long-term housing. Homeless people have to be referred, and screened for outstanding warrants, to get into Kraemerâs 24-hour shelter. Also, sex offenders are not allowed, and public safety is paramount.
âIt is not the time to turn our backs on some of the most vulnerable members of our community. Due to the unprecedented influx of additional homeless, it is crucial that shelters continue to function properly,â said Quirk-Silva. âLong term solutions will still need to be examined. This is a sensible step in the right direction, with its support from local government, law enforcement, and the community.â
Bridges at Kraemer Place is a 24-hour emergency homeless shelter facility in the city of Anaheim that is ADA Accessible and serves homeless single men and single women in the North Orange County area. The shelterâs primary focus is assisting program participants with creating a housing plan, making connections to housing resources and ending their homelessness as soon as possible. The shelter will initially have 100 beds due to ongoing construction to the facility. When construction is completed, it will serve 200 men and women, and will have office and meeting space to offer additional services.