Dana Point increasingly a magnet for homeless, and frustrated residents want city to get control

DANA POINT — Josh Johnson’s two sons, 10 and 13, regularly play on a basketball court at the bottom of the slope in their backyard near Niguel Road.

But after Johnson discovered recently that homeless people had put up a small tent city on the other side of the fence, he asked his boys to stop using the court.

“I feel uncomfortable with people there,” said Johnson, 42, who operates senior living homes and bought his Dana Knolls house in 2005. “I don’t want my sons down there with people I don’t know.”

He said he often finds trash and debris in his yard. And a recent water bill rocketed from the usual $80 to $800 after someone from the homeless encampment climbed over the fence and left water running, he said.

At the July 18 City Council meeting, Johnson was one of dozens of frustrated residents who pleaded with city officials to get control of what they called the exploding homeless community in the city.

Homelessness in Dana Point is not new, but residents and business owners say they’ve seen the population more than double in the last few years. Homeless people are camping out in alley ways, public parks, county rights-of-way and now on private properties like Johnson’s, residents told the council. And they are using those properties as toilets, having sex there and dumping trash, residents said.

While many cities in Orange County are facing similar issues, Dana Point seems to be a target for the homeless in the south part of the county. The city’s hilly topography creates hidden shelters and the industrial area in Capistrano Beach is a popular camping spot — close to Doheny State Beach, which offers a comfortable place to rest during the day, according to city officials and support group leaders.

An increase in the number of sober-living homes in the area has created a pool of people who become homeless after they are evicted from the homes and settle in Dana Point, said Police Chief Lt. Russ Chilton. Like the owners of the multimillion dollar homes spread throughout Dana Point, many of them want to live near the beach.

Another big draw is the free meals provided daily by a faith-based group at Doheny, Chilton said.

“People come here for the climate and resources,” he said. “A recent shift in the criminal justice system forces us to give low-level drug offenders a ticket. The Affordable Care Act has given people access to drug and alcohol programs contributing to sober living homes. That was an unintended consequence.”

Police calls for service from 2014 to 2016 increased from 16,681 to 19,755, an 18 percent jump, officials said.

The issue has grown increasingly frustrating for city officials, who are in the midst of a plan to brand the city as a five-star destination that can compete for tourism with Laguna Beach.

Efforts are also under way to spruce up the downtown with a swanky Lantern District that includes fine dining, high-end condos and outdoor cafes. And the city has plans to overhaul Capistrano Beach’s Doheny Village — not to mention the $200 million revitalization of the Dana Point Harbor.

Mayor Debra Lewis asked Chilton to address the problem during a recent City Council meeting that lasted past 1 a.m.

Lewis shared complaints from residents and merchants in Doheny Village, on the border of Dana Point and San Juan Capistrano, who reported getting into physical altercations with the homeless.

“We understand these people need help,” Lewis said. “But residents and their children and businesses and customers all need to feel safe and free from aggressive behavior.”

Affecting resident quality of life

Linda Stites, who lives close to the harbor and a block from the Lantern District’s main drag, said the number of homeless living there has doubled in three years.

She said her house has been broken into twice in the last three months and her car window was smashed and briefcase and lap top taken.

“There are people sleeping next to my garage,” she said. “It creeps me out to walk down the alley when someone is sitting there tweaked out, staring and screaming at you.

“It’s turning into a mini Santa Ana and the cops are turning a blind eye,” she said.

Bill Downing, who lives near Stites, designs security for high-end companies and private clientele. Recently, he installed multiple cameras around his property and has offered footage and live feeds to local police.

Downing said he recently awoke to see a homeless man trying to break into his Porsche. Downing chased the man up Blue Lantern and along Pacific Coast Highway to near Cannon’s Restaurant but failed to catch him.

“It affects my sleep habits,” he said. “I’m always hearing things and reacting to it.”

Homeless population is growing

Chilton agreed the homeless population has increased, calling it a domino affect. Deputies post signs telling the homeless they must vacate campsites on city property and county agencies do the same on areas that belong to them. But that only prompts the homeless move on and relocate elsewhere in the city, he said.

“It’s a very challenging issue,” he said. “Depending on who you talk to, they are either derelicts or disabled. People in the community say you can arrest away the homeless situation but it’s not that easy.”

Chilton said he has added a full-time homeless liaison officer who partners with the Mercy House organization to better work with the homeless population.

On a recent tour around the city, Chilton stopped in to check on a few sites in Capistrano Beach that have been posted with signs telling the homeless to move on.

Jeffrey Barro, a 56-year-old former tile layer who is one of the elders in a community of about 60 homeless there, said he understands why residents and business owners complain about the influx of homeless in the city.

“I tell the young guys, ‘If you’re going to steal, don’t do it in Dana Point,” he said. “The merchants don’t want us anywhere near their stores and the kids are afraid of us.

“But not all of us are pedophiles,” he said. “Kids look at me like I’m a monster. I’m ashamed and embarrassed. I put the tile in a lot of these castles.”

Many homeless people are drawn by the free daily meals at Doheny, he said.

“You can go anywhere in California and they don’t feed you as good as they do here,” Barro said.

Tommy Waldo, a square-jawed 38-year-old who said he has been homeless on and off for 15 years, said he has sought out private properties in Dana Point.

“You’re hidden from the police and the public,” said Waldo, who now lives out of his car and has picked up work with a local contractor. “You won’t get your stuff stolen or go to jail. We come in late and stay quiet.”

What’s next?

On Wednesday, July 26, city officials held a task force meeting on homelessness. They discussed bringing in more homeless outreach support, pooling resources with surrounding cities and bringing a plan to the City Council at a future date. Representatives from the local VFW post 9934 discussed services to benefit homeless vets. The group will meet again on Aug. 30.

Chilton has told home and business owners to report trespassing violations. Mostly, the homeless agree to vacate once deputies arrive, he said. If they don’t, they are cited for trespassing, which frequently lands them in jail when it goes to a warrant, he said.

In the end, as in Johnson’s case, homeowners are left cleaning up their property, Chilton said.

When it comes to public property, deputies are required by law to put up a warning and give the homeless time to vacate.

Chilton points to organizations like Family Assisted Ministries of San Clemente and Mercy House that can help stop people from getting into the homeless cycle. This year FAM has helped find housing for 17 homeless people in Dana Point.

“People look to law enforcement to solve this issue,” he said. “But this is a community issue. It’s up to city leaders, faith-based leaders and the community. We all have to work collaboratively to move the needle.”