Homelessness in Orange County (Open to the Public) (New)

Homelessness 101, An Orange County Focus

September 19

This session provides the background and context of homelessness in Orange County—its scope, causes and effects, and solutions. Attendees will learn the context for policy decisions related to housing solutions and how they can become involved to improve their communities.

Speaker: Michael Shepherd, Associate Director, Orange County United Way

Addressing Homelessness in Orange County in 2024

October 3

The Office of Care Coordination, part of the County’s Executive Office, is charged with coordinating the County’s efforts to address homelessness. It also serves as the administrative entity of Orange County’s Continuum of Care and is staff lead for the Commission to End Homelessness, both groups playing key roles in addressing homelessness. With the 2024 Point in Time Count reporting a 28% increase in the number of people experiencing homelessness since 2022, Doug Becht will provide key efforts going on throughout the County to help stem the increase and serve those experiencing homelessness.

Speaker : Doug Becht, Director, County of Orange–Office of Care Coordination

HOPE in Homelessness

October 17

Hope Center of Orange County, a result of the vision of the North Orange County Public Safety Collaborative, will share its success serving persons experiencing homelessness in a significant number of North OC cities. Learn how Hope collaborates with these cities, as well as community agencies and organizations to shift non-emergency calls from police and paramedics.  Hope’s trained staff that provide in-person outreach and services to individuals experiencing homelessness and/or mental illness in the streets of their communities.

Speaker: George Searcy, Interim Executive Director, HOPE Center Orange County

Street to Home:  Housing and Healthcare for the Unhoused 

October 31

This session describes the Illumination Foundation’s model to disrupt the cycle of homelessness.  Illumination Foundation’s Fullerton location is a state-of-the-art facility, created through a public-private partnership and offering navigation and recuperative care beds under one roof to address the housing and healthcare needs of those experiencing homelessness. Learn about clients’ journeys from vulnerability to stability, from street to shelters, from family emergency homes and recuperative care to permanent housing.

Speaker: Dr. Pooja Bhalla, Chief Executive Officer, Illumination Foundation

The Best Solution for Being Without a Home is the Simplest Solution: Housing

November 14

This session describesaffordable housing that is focused on the whole person, designed to be accessible to anyone and makes it possible for families, veterans and others who are without a home to integrate back into society, to live with dignity and to be a part of the community. Learn about American Family Housing’s award-winning model strategy to build housing faster and cheaper, using cost-effective modular construction methods and recycled shipping containers.