[xenihn]

My hometown is Anaheim, CA. I recently visited to go biking along the Santa Ana river, and I was shocked at the large numbers of homeless people throughout the stretch between the Angel Stadium and Santa Ana. Even more shocking was the fact that most of them seemed to be under 30. Every freeway overpass had encampments beneath and around it -- at least 30-40 tents total in the smaller encampments, and 60+ in the larger ones.

The river and the county seat (which also has encampments surrounding it) have become the only place where homeless encampments are allowed any sort of permanence, since police departments in cities throughout Southern California have adopted increasingly aggressive policies towards them. From what I understand, the river and county seat fall under the County Sheriff's jurisdiction, so city police can't evict them or seize possessions, and the Sheriff has realized that there is literally no where else for these people to go, and is currently allowing them to stay.

This year's ACLU report on homeless in Orange County is interesting:

https://www.aclusocal.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/Nowhere...

I honestly had no idea how bad things are. I feel horrible about it.