Newport Beach Mayor Calls Homeless Shelter ‘Phenomenally Expensive,’ but Necessary

A homeless woman walks without shoes in Santa Ana, Calif., on Dec. 17, 2020. John Fredricks/The Epoch Times

Newport Beach is finalizing a deal with Costa Mesa for 29 beds in a homeless shelter that will cost the city $2.6 million for the first year, and $1 million each following year.

“It’s phenomenally expensive, and something we have to do,” Newport Beach Mayor Brad Avery said during a Feb. 10 public Zoom meeting. “I say to people, what is the alternative? ... This [managing homelessness] is our mission the next 10 years.”