Homes for the Homeless in Orange County

Scott Larson (below right), the executive director of HomeAid Orange County, took time from his schedule to teach my friend John Braun and me about the continuum of housing solutions for homeless people in Orange County, California.   

The types of housing he discussed were emergency housing, transitional housing, and permanent / supportive housing.  

Types of Housing - by Length of Stay*

Type of Housing	Description
Permanent Housing	This just means that there is no time limit on how long you can reside in the housing or receive the housing assistance. It is meant to be long-term. “Permanent supportive housing” (or PSH) is just permanent housing that makes support services available to help you maintain your housing and access community resources.
Transitional Housing	This means that there is a time limit on how long you can stay in the housing or receive the housing assistance. HUD defines transitional housing as stays of up to 24 months (but stays can be shorter).
Short-Term or Temporary Housing	This means that the housing situation is intended to be very short-term or temporary (30, 60, or 90 days or less).
Emergency Shelter	Provides a place to stay or bed to sleep in overnight if you become homeless or otherwise experience a housing crisis and have no place to go.

*http://homebaseforhousing.org/Education/Definitions.cshtml

After describing each type and their role in serving the homeless, Scott showed us a map of where each type of housing was in Orange County and where the greatest needs were both in terms of the type of housing involved and its geographic location.

Scott then took us on a tour to see firsthand the various housing types.  A few of our stops are described below.

THE COURTYARD IN SANTA ANA

The Courtyard is an emergency shelter that just opened near the Santa Ana Civic Center.  The Courtyard is a former bus terminal that is now open 24 hours a day to provide a safe place to sleep for up to 400 people per night.  Those that stay at the courtyard can also shower, do laundry, and store their belongings there.  The shelter is divided into areas designated for individuals, couples, people with pets, and those ready to move into more permanent housing. Most importantly, the clients can be connected to a variety of services such as medical clinics, veteran's support and legal aid.  The Courtyard is a joint venture between the city of Santa Ana, the County of Orange and the  Midnight Mission. 

Orange County Armory Cold Weather Shelter - Santa Ana For several years, the Orange County Cold Weather Armory Emergency Shelter program provides shelter and services for the homeless at the National Guard Armories in Fullerton and Santa Ana during the cold winter months. The homeless will receive a nutritious meal, a warm shower, and a safe place to sleep. Volunteers will pass out donations of warm clothing and Service Providers from Orange County will be on site to provide needed services.   A condition of use with the National Guard is that the everything be torn down and put into storage each day to in case the National Guard is called into service that day. Mercy House operates the shelter for the county.

ISAIAH HOUSE EMERGENCY HOUSING

Isaiah House of the Orange County Catholic Worker has served poor people since 1987. Located in Santa Ana's eastside, this house is open to those most at risk on the streets. Isaiah House offers formal meals for the homeless, shelter, bags of food and clothing, showers, emergency assistance, a relaxing backyard, and encouragement.  Isaiah House was founded and operates on the principle of “seeking God by living with the poor”.

Orange County Rescue Mission Transitional Living Facility

The Orange County Rescue Missions’ Villageof Hope is a comprehensive 192-bed transitional housing facility for homeless men, women and children located on a five acre campus in Tustin.  The Mission serves the homeless by providing services such as residential housing for up to two years, medical and dental care, meals, job training, case management, substance abuse treatment, parent training, anger management training, mental health care assessment and treatment, housing assistance and placement, and life skills training.  The Orange County Rescue Mission was established in 1963 and operated out of a store front facility in Santa Ana, CA., providing food and shelter to very poor and homeless populations.  It was founded by Marine Corps Technical Sergeant Lewis White and his wife.  Today, the Christian-based Orange County Rescue Mission is the county’s largest privately funded human service agency for the poor and homeless. The magnitude of the services they provide is shown in the table below.

SALVATION ARMY HOSPITALITY HOUSE

The Salvation Army Hospitality House provides homeless single adult males with a clean, safe place to stay.  The Santa Ana Hospitality House has a capacity of 75 beds, and also provides clients with meals, an on-site case worker and job placement assistance. Beds are assigned based on availability, as well as a designated length of stay. However, individuals who need more time to rebuild their lives have the opportunity to extend their stay and participate in the transitional living programs. Food, clothing, and counseling services are provided free of charge to those that are in need, as well as work search and integrated employment programs.

Services include: 
-Transitional Living Programs 
-Emergency Shelter 
-Daily Meal Service 
-Case Management and Counseling 
-Employment Assistance and Job Placement 
-Substance Abuse Recovery Services and Crisis Intervention 
-Transportation and Basic Needs Assistance 
-Computer and Life Skills Classes 
-Weekly Worship Services 

Summary

Thanks again to Scott Larson, the Orange County HomeAid Executive Director for teaching us about homeless housing options in Orange County.  Orange County HomeAid has been instrumental in building and rehabilitating facilities like these all over Orange County.  It was clear that while much has been done, the need remains great.  HomeAid and the other organizations described above are all well deserving of any type of support you can provide.