Solutions for the Homeless
What Works and What’s Ahead
The League of Women Voters believes that when families or individuals cannot afford decent housing, government should provide assistance in the form of income and/or subsidized housing.
Press Release from the OC BOS
OC Homelessness Settlement
Orange County Reaches “Landmark” Settlement on Homeless Encampments
7/30/2019: Orange County ends battle over homeless encampments with a settlement that may serve as a model for cities.
Point in Time Count
See the most recent official count of homeless people in Orange County, the 2019 OC Point in Time Homeless Count.
Some More Resources on Homelessness in Orange County:
- UCI-United Way study of homelessness in the OC: https://www.unitedwayoc.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/united-way-cost-study-homelessness-2017-report.pdf
- OC Office of Care Coordination Info: http://www.ocgov.com/gov/ceo/care
- Specific Resource Info on Homelessness resources in the OC's Coordination of Care Service Planning Areas: http://www.ocgov.com/gov/ceo/care/docs
- OC United Way’s United to End Homelessness Campaign: https://www.unitedwayoc.org/how-we-are-doing-more/housing/united-to-end-homelessness/
- Orange County Housing Finance Trust: http://www.accoc.org/policy/homelessness-issues-and-solutions/ocht/
- Orange County Commission to End Homelessness: http://www.ocgov.com/gov/ceo/care/commendhom
2018 Report: Building a System of Care
In an April 2018 report on Building a System of Care, Susan Price, Orange County‘s Director of Care Coordination, reported that there are now approximately 1080 emergency beds available for part of the year:
- 650 beds in the County’s three big emergency shelters – the Courtyard Transitional Center, the Bridges at Kramer Place and a SAFE Place at WISE Place for Women; and
- Another 430 when the emergency shelters at the armories in Fullerton and Santa Ana are open, typically late fall – mid-spring, but sometimes longer.
There are also some emergency beds in shelters operated by non-governmental organizations such as the Salvation Army.
2018 LWV of Orange Coast Panel Discussion
On March 27, 2018, the League of Women Voters of Orange Coast convened a panel discussion of homelessness with presenters from one city and four organizations addressing homelessness in a variety of effective ways.
Click on each name to see the slides used for their presentations:
Becks Heyhoe, Orange County United Way- Madelynn Hirneise, Families Forward
- Heather Stratman, Association of California Cities of Orange County
- Tom Hatch, City of Costa Mesa
- Helen Cameron, Jamboree Housing
How you can help:
- Join United Way's Campaign, United to End Homelessness: https://www.unitedtoendhomelessness.org/
- Families Forward invites us to get involved: https://www.families-forward.org/
- The Association of California Cities, Orange County has information on their advocacy on behalf of those experiencing homelessness at http://www.accoc.org/?s=homelessness
- The City of Costa Mesa offers information about their innovative programs to assist Costa Mesa residents experiencing homelessness at http://www.costamesaca.gov/city-hall/network-for-homeless-solutions
- Jamboree Housing invites us to Share the Conversation at https://www.jamboreehousing.com/results-develop-build-communities-help-people/resources/presentations-publications, where you can find further resources and follow them on social media.
