The City of Fullerton is working to establish limited inclement weather shelter options for families and seniors (62+) as temperatures drop below 40 degrees or during heavy rainfall. According to City Manager Eric Levitt, efforts have been made to collaborate with various agencies, but securing a provider to operate a dedicated shelter for this winter has proven challenging.
“Unfortunately, there are no similar shelters in Orange County due to the high costs and complexities involved,” Levitt stated. In response to these difficulties, Levitt and his colleague Housing Manager Daniel Valdez have developed alternative options following directives from recent City Council meetings.
The city plans to work with two local hotels to offer shelter specifically for families and individuals aged 62 and older when weather conditions reach critical levels. However, Levitt acknowledged that the initiative will have limited scope due to resource constraints. “We currently have approximately $5,000 allocated from the Housing Fund to assess the effectiveness of this program,” he added.
Council Member Ahmad Zahra sent an email thanking Levitt and Valdez for the update on cold weather shelter for the unhoused and agreed that this is a good alternative option. He wrote, “How would families or individuals over 62 know about this program? Also curious, why 62 specifically?”
In response to Council Member Zahra’s inquiry, Housing Manager Valdez emphasized the importance of prioritizing seniors, who are often among the most vulnerable populations. Citing federal guidelines, Valdez explained that the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) defines seniors as those aged 62 and over. “While we will continue to utilize our local shelter whenever available, this initiative offers an additional option for those in need,” he said.
To facilitate outreach, the city will rely on the efforts of Community Outreach Specialists, HOPE Center personnel, and Homeless Liaison Officers, all of whom maintain ongoing communication with unsheltered residents.
As the winter months approach, Fullerton’s initiative aims to address the urgent needs of its most vulnerable citizens despite the limitations presented by funding and provider availability.
Contact your district representative to support this effort.
• District 5: Dr. Ahmad Zahra (714) 738-6311 ahmadz@cityoffullerton.com
• District 4: Jamie Valencia (714) 738-6311 jamie.valencia@cityoffullerton.com
• District 3: Dr. Shana Charles -Mayor Pro tem/Vice Chair (714) 738-6311 shana.charles@cityoffullerton.com
• District 2: Nick Dunlap (714) 738-6311 nicholas.dunlap@cityoffullerton.com
• District 1: Fred Jung – Mayor/ Chair (714) 738-6311 fred.jung@cityoffullerton.com
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Categories: Health, Local Government, Local News
I would like HOPE Center to give a public update on what they are doing and data on progress. I would also like to know why the center is closed at 5pm and on weekends. And who is running it and what happened to former director Kelley Fritzal. A lot of money went into the HOPE Center. Has it been working?