PRESS RELEASE, FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
CONTACT: Karen Roper (714) 480-2805 Cell (714) 423-8315
December 24, 2009
COUNTY AWARDED $11 MILLION FOR HOMELESS SERVICES
HUD GRANT WILL DIRECTLY ASSIST THE COUNTY’S POPULATION OF HOMELESS FAMILIES AND INDIVIDUALS
(Santa Ana, CA) – The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) awarded $11,002,707 in renewal funding to the County of Orange in homeless assistance funding for as part of the Continuum of Care Super Notice of Funding Availability (SuperNOFA) grant competition. The SuperNOFA is an annual process and the grant award to the County of Orange, with OC Community Services (OCCS) as the lead agency, is a direct result of the County’s partnership with cities and homeless service organizations to address the issue of homelessness in Orange County. This collaborative effort is part of a regional plan aimed at breaking the cycle of homelessness. According to Orange County’s 2009 Point in Time Count and Survey, 21,479 residents experience homelessness throughout the course of one year.
This grant funding is needed to keep local homeless assistance programs operating and will help 36 programs in the County to continue to offer critically needed housing and services to homeless persons and families. For the first time ever, HUD is quickly providing these renewal grants to local programs to prevent any interruption in federal assistance and will announce funding to new projects in early 2010.
“Orange County is being recognized by the federal government for our regional approach to help move families and individuals out of homelessness and into self-sufficiency,” stated Karen Roper, Director of OC Community Services. “In this present time of budgetary constraints, the $11 million will ensure that we continue to care for our residents most in need.”
OC Community Services, OC Partnership, and the Continuum of Care Leadership Cabinet coordinated the 2009 Continuum of Care application process. The $11 million grant award will provide transitional shelter and supportive services for families and individuals as well as permanent supportive housing for the disabled and special needs homeless populations. The County of Orange has received $121.9 million since 1996 in the Continuum of Care SuperNOFA Homeless Assistance grant competition.
Grant Awards will go directly from HUD to the following recipients:
American Family Housing $419,662 for 36 beds, supportive services, and operations to provide transitional housing to homeless
Orange County Housing Authority $3,121,104 for 174 Housing Certificates for tenant-based rental assistance for disabled homeless
Orange County Housing Authority $551,232 for 30 Housing Certificates for tenant-based rental assistance for disabled homeless Mercy House $118,000 for 20 beds, supportive services, operations and HMIS to provide transitional housing to homeless Anaheim Supportive Housing Senior Adults $139,020 for 12 beds, supportive services, operations and HMIS to provide permanent housing to homeless Mercy House $90,240 for 21 beds, supportive services and HMIS to provide transitional housing to homeless Collette’s Children’s Home $157,278 for 24 beds, supportive services, operations, leasing and HMIS to provide transitional housing to homeless Human Options $111,122 for 50 beds, supportive services and operations to provide transitional housing to homeless John Henry Foundation $146,369 for 30 beds, supportive services and operations to provide permanent housing to homeless OC Partnership $57,043 for HMIS implementation OC Partnership $433,263 for HMIS to provide support services to providers who serve homeless subpopulations Collette’s Children’s Home $127,309 for 24 beds, supportive services, operations, leasing, and HMIS to provide transitional housing to homeless South County Outreach $25,034 for 10 beds, supportive services and operations to provide transitional housing to homeless South County Outreach $175,959 for 50 beds, supportive services and HMIS to provide transitional housing to homeless So.Cal. Alcohol & Drug $382,527 for 20 beds, supportive services, operations, leasing and HMIS to provide transitional housing to homeless South County Outreach $25,157 for 8 beds, supportive services and operations to provide transitional housing to homeless Thomas House $87,833 for 76 beds, 14 cribs, supportive services, operations and HMIS to provide transitional housing to homeless
Human Options $30,793 for supportive services to homeless
YWCA Central OC $93,880 for 11 beds, supportive services, operations and HMIS to provide transitional housing to homeless
Orange Coast Interfaith Shelter $283,129 for 24 beds, supportive services, operations, leasing and HMIS to provide transitional housing to homeless
Veterans First $159,700 for 24 beds, supportive services, operations and leasing to provide transitional housing to homeless
Families Forward $73,819 for 35 beds, supportive services and operations to provide transitional housing to homeless
Veterans First $254,804 for 28 beds, supportive services, operations, leasing and HMIS to provide transitional housing to homeless
Families Forward $132,941 for 49 beds, supportive services and operations to provide transitional housing to homeless
Interval House $73,268 for case management and supportive services to victims of domestic violence
Eli Home $524,275 for 28 beds, supportive services, operations, leasing and HMIS to provide transitional housing to homeless
Fullerton Interfaith Emergency Shelter $252,000 for low cost child care services to homeless families
Toby’s House $119,545 for supportive services for homeless individuals
Orange County Housing Authority $1,014,264 for 58 Housing Certificates for tenant-based rental assistance for disabled homeless
Orange County Housing Authority $702,264 for 40 Housing Certificates for tenant-based rental assistance for disabled homeless
Orange County Housing Authority $411,684 for 29 Housing Certificates for project-based rental assistance for disabled homeless
Friendship Shelter $68,136 to provide supportive services to the chronic homeless
Veteran’s First $211,664 for 22 permanent housing beds to serve disabled and chronic homeless veterans
WISE Place $100,593 for 5 beds, supportive services, and operations to provide transitional housing to homeless
Colette’s Children’s Home $163,898 for 24 beds, supportive services, operations, and HMIS to provide transitional housing to homeless (Anaheim)
Colette’s Children’s Home $163,898 for 24 beds, supportive services, operations, and HMIS to provide transitional housing to homeless (Placentia)
“This award is a direct result of the hard work and dedication of the County’s partnership with cities, non-profit organizations, and other important stakeholders,” stated Ms. Roper. “These thirty six programs will provide families and individuals with the housing and support they need to achieve independent living.”
OC Community Services houses the County’s Homeless Prevention Division. OC Community Services also administers funds for participating cities and community-based organizations for homeless services and coordinates regional initiatives to address homelessness in Orange County. The County of Orange in collaboration with community stakeholders has developed a draft Ten-Year Plan to End Homelessness. The Ten-Year Plan is scheduled for Board of Supervisor’s consideration on January 12, 2010. To view a copy of the draft plan you may go to the following webpage:
For more information about the County’s efforts to address homelessness, please contact Karen Roper at (714) 480-2805 or (714) 423-8315.
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Click here to read the actual press release from the County of Orange.
“According to Orange County’s 2009 Point in Time Count and Survey, 21,479 residents experience homelessness throughout the course of one year.”
Just wondering what their definition of “homeless” is. I’ve heard many definitions and almost all of them make the truly homeless man pictured above a small minority in their homeless calculations. I’ve even heard of definitions where you are homeless, if you are living with family and the person who owns/rents the place has a different last name than you.
I don’t post to minimize homelessness just to point out that the 21k figure might not be a lot of readers interpretation of “homeless”
This is a great illustration of how dependent so called non-profits are on government funding. Taxpayer dollars at work.
Its all a big scam, Mercy house, lennar shelters. All making a huge profit of the supposed American poor. The homeless in Orange County are mostly illegal immigrants,its just a fact. If your going to give to non-profits in Orange County, i suggest you put your money to better use and send it down south to families and homeless kids.
Since the County of Orange is harassing, not helping, the hopeless, they should give the money to someone who will actually help the homeless. The police confiscate the goods of the homeless on a regular basis and shove around people they suspect of being homeless. The organizations that are helping the homeless in OC are all private.