County Recommends $11 Million for Homeless Services 

HOUSING and COMMUNITY SERVICES AGENCY

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: PR 03:04 PR CONTACT: Karen Roper 714.480.2841 Ken Domer 714.480.2990 July 2, 2003

COUNTY RECOMMENDS $11 MILLION FOR HOMELESS SERVICES

FUNDS SOUGHT IN HUD GRANT TO ADDRESS THE COUNTY'S GROWING POPULATION OF HOMELESS FAMILIES AND INDIVIDUALS

(Santa Ana, CA) -On Tuesday, July 1, 2003 the Orange County Board of Supervisors approved the Housing and Community Services Department (H&CS) funding recommendations to seek $11 million in a U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) homeless assistance grant competition under the Continuum of Care Super Notice of Funding Availability (SuperNOFA). The SuperNOFA is an annual process and the grant requested by the County of Orange, the lead agency, is a direct result of the County's partnership with cities and hundreds of non-profit organizations to address the issue of homelessness in Orange County. The federal government and HUD have a goal to end chronic homelessness in 10 years. In line with this vision, H&CS's Continuum of Care Application recommends projects that focus on moving the chronically homeless from the streets and into permanent supportive housing.

According to a 2003 needs assessment survey, homelessness in Orange County is on the rise. As of March 2003, the total homeless population in Orange County was 27,947, up almost 21% since last year. Of this total, 19,563 are families with children; the remaining are individuals, many with special needs such as mental illness, substance abuse, HIV/AIDS, developmental and/or physical disabilities. Approximately 65% are among the "working poor." Due to the increase in low wage jobs and high housing costs, most working homeless are unable to afford housing.

"H&CS has undertaken a regional plan aimed at breaking the cycle of homelessness," stated Paula Burrier-Lund, Director of H&CS. "This strategy involves a strong partnership with other agencies, cities, and non-profit organizations to move families and individuals out of homelessness and into self-sufficiency. Additional federal, state, and local resources are needed to more adequately address this crisis."

H&CS's application will be submitted to HUD for a national competition for homeless assistance funding. Although this is an extremely competitive process, H&CS has been highly successful in past competitions. From 1996 to date, H&CS has secured over $43 million in Continuum of Care funds for Orange County resulting in 1,890 new transitional housing units, the preservation of 961 existing transitional housing units through provision of operating funds, 399 permanent supportive housing units developed for special needs homeless, and over 19,000 supportive service slots developed to help move and keep families and individuals out of homelessness by providing education, training, counseling, and many other services.

2003 funding recommendations include:

Orange County Housing Authority
And the Health Care Agency $3,584,220 for Shelter Plus Care Section 8 Housing Vouchers to provide permanent supportive housing for disabled and special needs individuals and families

Orange County Housing Authority
And the Health Care Agency $553,068 for renewal of Shelter Plus Care Section 8 Housing Vouchers to provide permanent supportive housing for disabled and
special needs individuals and families

Serving People in Need, Inc. $349,009 for transitional housing for disabled individuals
---MORE---
Mercy House $300,000 for renewal of transitional housing for individuals with special needs and disabilities

Southern California Alcohol and
Drug Programs, Inc. $1,211,313 for transitional housing for homeless families

Women's Transitional Living Center, Inc. $75,000 for transitional housing for homeless families and individuals dealing with domestic violence and substance abuse

Orange Coast Interfaith Shelter $535,096 for transitional housing for homeless families

Thomas House Temporary Shelter $92,400 for renewal of transitional housing for homeless families

Fullerton Interfaith
Emergency Service, Inc. $756,000 for renewal of supportive services for homeless children
and disabled individuals

Saddleback Community Outreach $83,180 for renewal of transitional housing for homeless families

Thomas House $274,661 for transitional housing for homeless families

Mary's Shelter $804,136 for transitional housing for homeless pregnant and parenting teens

Saddleback Community Outreach $987,596 for transitional housing for homeless families

Colette's Children's Home $928,395 for transitional housing for homeless families

Shelter for the Homeless $364,054 for renewal of transitional housing for homeless families

The Legal Aid Society of Orange County $350,622 for supportive services for homeless families and
Individuals

"These sixteen projects, if funded," stated Karen Roper, the County's Homeless Prevention Coordinator, "will go a long way in the filling the gap to help provide services, shelter, and housing for Orange County's homeless."

H&CS houses the County's Homeless Prevention and Related Services Program. H&CS also administers funds for participating cities and community-based organizations for homeless services. For more information about the County's efforts to address homelessness, please contact Karen Roper at (714) 480-2841 or visit www.oc.ca.gov and click on Homeless Prevention.

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