IRVINE, Calif. – Jan. 22, 2019 – Susan B. Parks, President and CEO of Orange County United Way, has received a Certificate of Special Congressional Recognition for the innovative work being done by United to End Homelessness, a community-wide initiative led by the local non-profit organization.
United to End Homelessness is committed to reducing homelessness in Orange County to “functional zero” by 2024. Established in February 2018, this unprecedented community-wide collaboration brings together the county’s top business, philanthropic, governmental, faith-based and non-profit leaders as well as caring residents.
A priority of the initiative is assisting the chronically homeless by placing them in supportive housing (or permanent supportive housing) where they can gain stability while receiving needed care for diagnosed disabilities. Key strategies supporting the initiative include:
- Expanding the number of apartments in which homeless individuals can be placed while receiving supportive care
- Educating minds and changing hearts through a comprehensive public awareness effort
- Better understanding data regarding the size and needs of the homeless population
- Ensuring that available public and private funding is focused on the most critical problems and solutions
United to End Homelessness recently announced $250,000 in funding from the County of Orange for a pilot program designed to remove barriers to placing homeless men and women with rental vouchers into their own apartment homes while receiving the supportive care needed to bring stability to their lives.
Another important milestone will be the biennial Point in Time count of the county’s homeless population to be conducted in late January. Due to a new methodology, results this year will produce the most accurate count to date to help guide policy makers charged with enacting solutions in ways not possible in years past.
For more information on the United to End Homelessness initiative, visit www.unitedtoendhomelessness.org.
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About United to End Homelessness
Following up on key recommendations in the landmark Homelessness Cost Study commissioned by Orange County United Way in partnership with University of California, Irvine and Jamboree, and applying lessons learned from other communities, the United to End Homelessness coalition, powered by United Way, is comprised of local leaders working to ensure that integrated and sustainable solutions are implemented on behalf of Orange County neighbors suffering from homelessness. The goal is to end homelessness in Orange County by March 2024. For more information, please visit www.unitedtoendhomelessness.org.
About Orange County United Way
Orange County United Way is Doing More for the education, health, housing and financial stability of every person in Orange County. More than a fundraiser, we’re hands-on, delivering more than 50 community impact programs countywide. We focus on long-term solutions to the most critical interconnected challenges facing local children and families. FACE 2024, our 10-year communitywide action plan aims to cut the high school dropout rate in half, increase healthy youth by one-third, cut the percentage of homeless or unstably housed children and families in half, and reduce financial instability by 25%. United Way is doing more to make long-term measurable differences in the lives of children and families right here in Orange County. To learn more and to do more with us, visit www.unitedwayoc.org.
