Kriz: Another 25 People Died “Without Fixed Abode” in OC in April 2026 as County Released Report on Homeless Deaths for 2024 When They Began to Decline

Another 25 people died “without fixed abode” in OC in April, 2026.  Their names are:

Jorge CORTES who died on April 3rd in Santa Ana

Andrew SOLOMON who died on April 3rd in Buena Park

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Patricia SALGADO who died on April 5th in Anaheim

Leonardo BRUNTON who died on April 8th in Anaheim

Elmer ALEMAN BARRIENTOS who died on April 9th in Anaheim

Isabelle STANFIELD-TORRES who died on April 11th in Anaheim

Michael ANDRE who died on April 11th in Anaheim

Juan JAIMES who died on April 12th in Santa Ana

Salena ROBINSON who died on April 14th in Fountain Valley

Frank LUTZ JR who died on April 14th in Orange

Daniel WARD who died on April 14th in Fountain Valley

Sherri RANGEL who died on April 16th in Anaheim

Salem ODISHO who died on April 16th in Santa Ana

Shawn EDSON who died on April 17th in Costa Mesa

Dillon MERRIAM who died on April 17th in Anaheim

Ricky SAUCEDO who died on April 19th in Huntington Beach

Joseph AGUILERA who died on April 23rd in Santa Ana

Billy TADLOCK who died on April 24th in Huntington Beach

Janine CRUZ who died on April 27th in Placentia

Uvilibaldo SALDANA who died on April 27th in Santa Ana

Andre MOORE who died on April 27th in Anaheim

David ONEAL who died on April 27th in Buena Park

Erin MENDIVIL who died on April 28th in San Clemente

Robert NELSON who died on April 29th in Anaheim

Dean BROWN who died on April 29th in Anaheim

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Additionally, one person died “without fixed abode” in January, 2026 whose name was added to the list of unhoused deceased during the past month.  Her name is:

Csenada DORIS who died on January 24th in Garden Grove.

For the year, the death rate among OC’s unhoused stands at 101.  This is significantly lower than the 125 deaths posted by this time last year, 184 deaths posted by this time in 2023, and 164 deaths posted by this time in 2022.

On April 30th of this year, the OC Sheriff-Coroner’s Homeless Death Review Committee (OCHDRC) released its Report on 2024 Orange County Homeless Deaths.  All four of the OCHDRC’s reports (for 2021-2024) can be found here.

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Significant was OCHDRC’s finding that though 2024 was the first year in which the number of deaths among the unhoused decreased substantially (by 25%) since the Committee was established, the cause of death percentages – accidental (including from drug overdoses), natural, homicide, suicide, COVID-19 – have remained more or less stable throughout the period (2021-2024) studied (pg 9).

Accidental deaths – 54-65%

Deaths due to Natural Causes – 26 -37%

Suicides – 4-6%

Homicides – 2-3%

Covid-19 – 0-4%

It had been widely assumed prior to the release of this report that the decrease in deaths among the unhoused between 2023 and 2024 was largely the result of a decrease in fentanyl related deaths.   Indeed, between 2023 and 2024, there was a 103 person decrease in fentanyl related deaths among OC’s unhoused deceased. 

However, the overall percentage of deaths due to accidents (including drug overdoses) and natural causes remained exactly the same for both years –  60% of the deaths among OC’s unhoused population were caused by accidental deaths, and 30% by natural causes (pg. 9).  So it would seem that something else is going on.

I would like to hope that the reason for the decrease would be the increased availability and utilization of shelter beds.  Only 32 of the 378, less than 10%,  unhoused deceased who died had been enrolled in a shelter when they died (pg 14).  

However, there may also be confusion in categorizing the deaths of people residing in shelters.   I know this because some years ago, I presided over a memorial service for a person who died in a shelter but whose death had never been among those “without fixed abode.”  Others among the homeless advocate community have similar experiences as well.

Nevertheless, the overall decrease in deaths among those “without fixed abode” is certainly a good thing, as is the OCHDRC’s commitment to produce a similar report next year (for 2025) as well (pg. 19). 

Knowledge is good, and these reports will help to continue to reduce and hopefully one day soon eliminate the deaths of these people, the unhoused, who certainly are among the most vulnerable people living in our midst.

Fr. Dennis Kriz, OSM, Pastor St. Philip Benizi Catholic Church, Fullerton.

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