Churches move food services, end Sunday service for homeless

COSTA MESA — Area churches and church coalitions have agreed to move their “food sharing activities” away from Lions Park to appease residents who said they felt uncomfortable and unsafe because of the homeless population that frequents the park.

Saddleback Church has also agreed to put a halt to Sunday morning services for the homeless, according to information released by the Homeless Task Force, a group of volunteers established by the City Council in January to address the issue of homelessness in Costa Mesa.

Day in the Park, which held events the last Saturday of each month in Lions Park and was run through the Crossing Church, notified the park’s homeless people that it was moving its services elsewhere for “what they hope and trust is the greater good.”

The organizations are now looking for other places to host food-sharing events, according to the information from the task force. The organizations agreed to halt services while the task force is doing its work.

— Lauren Williams