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As West Coast fights homelessness, kindness is contentious

ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) - Mohammed Aly does not see why he shouldn't try to ease the lives of Orange County's homeless. But the authorities - and many of his neighbors - disagree.

Aly, a 28-year-old lawyer and activist, has been arrested three times as he campaigned on behalf of street people. Recently, he was denied permission to install portable toilets on a dried-up riverbed, site of an encampment of roughly 400 homeless.

"It is a question of basic empathy," he said.

But his detractors are engaged in a debate up and down the West Coast as the region struggles to cope with a rising tide of homelessness. They say Aly and other well-meaning residents who provide the homeless with tents, toilets and hot meals are enabling them to remain unsheltered.

And they note, nuisances like trash and unsanitary conditions fester and aberrant behavior continues.

In California, the San Diego County community of El Cajon passed a measure that curtails feeding the homeless, citing health concerns. Los Angeles city officials have closed and re-opened restrooms for those on Skid Row amid similar controversies.

The issue is hotly debated in Orange County. In the seaside enclave of Dana Point, neighbors fear a nightly meal is drawing homeless to a state beach where teens play beach volleyball and families picnic and surf. And on the riverbed 30 miles north, a van fitted with shower stalls pulls up to help those living in the trash-strewn encampment, which neighbors worry is becoming more entrenched in an area where they once jogged and biked.

"There's no doubt that giving them stuff there prevents them from a desire to move," said Shaun Dove, a 46-year-old soon-to-be retired policeman who lives less than a mile away.

The number of homeless living in Orange County has climbed 8 percent over the last two years. In the United States, homelessness rose slightly in the last year to nearly 554,000, pushed up largely by increases on the West Coast, federal data shows. The increase is driven by soaring housing costs, as well as a drug crisis and need for mental health services.

Advocates say the homeless have become more visible as police have cracked down on rules barring camping, driving people to spots like the riverbed, which is county property.

Everybody knows the solution is more housing; there aren't enough beds available in a county with a median home price near $700,000.

In Dana Point, the nightly meals began more than two decades ago at local churches but were moved to the beach parking lot after a late night stabbing between two homeless residents.

The homeless say as much as they appreciate the hot meals, the food isn't keeping them on the streets.

"It doesn't help me tomorrow. It doesn't," said a 55-year-old man who refused to give his name. "But it helps me today."

Volunteers say the homeless are drawn to beaches because of the open space and access to water and restrooms and that feeding people can build trust and lead them to additional services.

But Brian Brandt, a 55-year-old lawyer, doesn't let his six children go down to the beach alone after seeing volatile outbursts among the homeless and frequent police calls.

"I don't want to be seen as a bad guy - 'OK, look at this heartless dude,'" he said. "I don't feel safe. I don't feel like my kids are safe."

Toni Nelson, who co-founded a neighborhood group, is also critical of the meals. She has joined with housing advocates to try to raise money to house the homeless with ties to the community, figuring if about a third of the city's residents chip in $68 they can cover much of the need for a year.

So far, dozens have signed up to give. But they still have a long way to go.

Robert Marbut, a consultant on homelessness, believes it's misguided to provide housing or other services without heavy incentives for recipients to be in treatment programs for mental health problems, addiction or other issues.

"Anytime you give out services without treatment," Marbut said, "that's enabling, period. ... You've got to serve the food in a place where mental health is being provided."

People say they ended up at the riverbed encampment for different reasons ranging from drug addiction to a lost job.

Many nearby residents said their neighborhoods have suffered since the camp has grown. Hypodermic needles have been found in the park and shopping carts rattle on otherwise quiet streets.

Anaheim officials said any aid should be part of a broader effort to help people find a way out of the riverbed. "The goal shouldn't be to make it slightly more comfortable there to live that way but rather, how can we get those folks to a better place?" said city spokesman Mike Lyster.

Orange County has shelter beds but they largely fill up. And many homeless said they don't like a shelter curfew or rules barring pets and prefer their privacy, even outdoors.

County authorities say they want to clear the riverbed and have provided those living there with showers and case management services to help those who want it.

Larry Ford, a 53-year-old veteran, said he appreciates the assistance but food and showers don't tether him to the string of tents.

"Look at this," he said, pointing to garbage by his feet. "What is this enabling here?"

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Mulvihill reported from Cherry Hill, New Jersey.

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Follow AP's complete coverage of the West Coast homeless crisis here: https://apnews.com/tag/HomelessCrisis

A large homeless encampment is formed in the Santa Ana Civic Center on Wednesday, Oct. 11, 2017, in Santa Ana, Calif. The number of homeless living in Orange County has climbed 8 percent over the last two years. The increase is driven by soaring housing costs, though a drug addiction crisis and need for mental health services are also factors. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong) The Associated Press
Homeless Jacqueline Anderson, 63, passes time playing with her smartphone in a homeless encampment on the Santa Ana River trail Sunday, Dec. 10, 2017, in Anaheim, Calif. "I like it here," said Anderson who had been to a few other encampments before settling on the river trail. "People always bring you food." (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong) The Associated Press
Homeless tents are pitched on a sidewalk in the Skid Row area of downtown Los Angeles Wednesday, Nov. 22, 2017, as tables are set up on the street to serve dinner to homeless people at the Los Angeles Mission's Annual Thanksgiving Dinner Celebration. Goodhearted neighbors heartbroken over the rising number of homeless in their communities are dishing out hot meals, providing mobile showers and handing out sandwiches to those in need, hoping they can make a difference. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong) The Associated Press
Homeless Lawrence Melvin, 50, looks at his bike next to a surfboard bearing a mock street address on the Santa Ana River trail Sunday, Dec. 10, 2017, in Anaheim, Calif. "We are family out here," said Melvin. "Churches donate whatever they can donate, but we look out for each other here." (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong) The Associated Press
Armando Olvera, 49, who has been providing mobile showers for the homeless since 2010, gives out rolls of toilet paper to homeless people while operating a shower trailer on the Santa Ana River trail Saturday, Dec. 2, 2017, in Anaheim, Calif. "How long I can do this? Forever," said Olvera whose day job is a plumber. Goodhearted neighbors heartbroken over the rising number of homeless in their communities are dishing out hot meals, providing mobile showers and handing out sandwiches to those in need, hoping they can make a difference. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong) The Associated Press
Homeless Kimberly Gardea, 35, walks out of a shower stall inside a trailer built to provide showers to homeless people living on the Santa Ana River trail Saturday, Dec. 2, 2017, in Anaheim, Calif. Goodhearted neighbors heartbroken over the rising number of homeless in their communities are dishing out hot meals, providing mobile showers and handing out sandwiches to those in need, hoping they can make a difference. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong) The Associated Press
Joel Sheehan, who does free laundry for homeless people living on the Santa Ana River trail, delivers washed clothes in baskets, each labeled with an individual's name, Tuesday, Dec. 19, 2017, in Anaheim, Calif. "I do it because I'm grateful for what was done for me at the cross. And this is what my gratitude looks like," said Sheehan. "They were able to go to stores with dignity because they didn't stink." (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong) The Associated Press
With a towel wrapped around her head, Stella Perez, who is homeless, applies makeup in the parking lot of Angel Stadium after taking a shower in Showers of Blessing, a mobile shower trailer built to provide free showers to homeless people, Tuesday, Dec. 19, 2017, in Anaheim, Calif. Goodhearted neighbors heartbroken over the rising number of homeless in their communities are dishing out hot meals, providing mobile showers and handing out sandwiches to those in need. But some question whether they're doing more harm than good. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong) The Associated Press
Two police officers, Eric Meier, right, and Curtis Bynum from the Anaheim Police Department's homeless outreach team walk through a homeless encampment set up outside Angel Stadium to hand out flyers about the community outreach day Tuesday, Dec. 19, 2017, in Anaheim, Calif. The event was organized by non-profit organizations and agencies to offer services to homeless people in Orange County. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong) The Associated Press
Homeless Junior Sanchez, 29, carries a tarp he found in a pile of trash in a homeless encampment on the Santa Ana River trail near Angel Stadium Saturday, Dec. 2, 2017, in Anaheim, Calif. "Toughest part being homeless is getting a plate of food and a shower," said Sanchez who said he became homeless after losing his job as cook. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong) The Associated Press
Amy Potter, left, and Victoria Pena, who are both homeless, pray for each other while holding donuts and coffee donated by local church members in a homeless encampment on the Santa Ana River trail Saturday, Dec. 9, 2017, in Anaheim, Calif. Goodhearted neighbors heartbroken over the rising number of homeless in their communities are dishing out hot meals, providing mobile showers and handing out sandwiches to those in need. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong) The Associated Press
Homeless tents are pitched around an America flag along the Santa Ana River trail Sunday, Dec. 10, 2017, in Anaheim, Calif. Advocates say the homeless population has become more visible as police have cracked down on rules barring camping, driving people from parks and bus benches to a few centralized locations, such as the flood control channel along the Santa Ana River in Anaheim. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong) The Associated Press
Homeless people wait in line for a free meal Thursday, Dec. 21, 2017, in Dana Point, Calif. The number of homeless living in Orange County has climbed 8 percent over the last two years. Goodhearted neighbors heartbroken over the rising number of homeless in their communities are dishing out hot meals, providing mobile showers and handing out sandwiches to those in need, hoping they can make a difference. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong) The Associated Press
Young volunteers from Lion's Heart, a non-profit community service organization, prepare sack lunches for homeless people Thursday, Dec. 21, 2017, in Dana Point, Calif. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong) The Associated Press
Homeless Jonathan Young, 40, carries donuts, soda and two bottles of water donated to him by church members in a homeless encampment set up on the Santa Ana River trail Saturday, Dec. 9, 2017, in Anaheim, Calif. Goodhearted neighbors heartbroken over the rising number of homeless in their communities are dishing out hot meals, providing mobile showers and handing out sandwiches to those in need. But some question whether they're doing more harm than good. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong) The Associated Press
David Pirate, from left, Richard Ramirez, and Eric Koehler, who are homeless, pass time outside their tents after emptying a bottle of vodka as a group of cyclists ride along the Santa Ana River trail Saturday, Dec. 2, 2017, in Anaheim, Calif. Advocates say the homeless population has become more visible as police have cracked down on rules barring camping, driving people from parks and bus benches to a few centralized locations, such as the flood control channel along the Santa Ana River in Anaheim. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong) The Associated Press
Homeless tents are pitched on the Santa Ana River trail near the Anaheim Regional Transportation Intermodal Center, a $185-million transportation center, Saturday, Dec. 2, 2017, in Anaheim, Calif. The number of homeless living in Orange County has climbed 8 percent over the last two years. In the United States, homelessness rose slightly in the last year to nearly 554,000, pushed up largely by increases on the West Coast, federal data shows. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong) The Associated Press
Sitting on the lawn at Doheny State Beach, Gholamreza Hagihgih, a 59-year-old Iranian immigrant who has been homeless for 20 years, eats his meal provided by a nonprofit organization Thursday, Dec. 21, 2017, in Dana Point, Calif. Goodhearted neighbors heartbroken over the rising number of homeless in their communities are dishing out hot meals, providing mobile showers and handing out sandwiches to those in need, hoping they can make a difference. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong) The Associated Press
A homeless man, who declined to give his name, gets a free haircut in the parking lot of Angel Stadium during the community outreach day Tuesday, Dec. 19, 2017, in Anaheim, Calif. The event was organized by non-profit organizations and agencies to offer services to homeless people in Orange County. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong) The Associated Press
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