FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 6, 2000
Contact: Karen Roper
(714) 834-3355
or Ken Domer
(714) 480-2739
Orange County Board
of Supervisors Approves $8 Million Grant Application to
HUD
(Santa Ana, CA) –
On the heels of two successful years that garnered the
county $13 million in homeless assistance funding, the
County of Orange and its network of partners have submitted
an $8 million grant request to the U.S. Department of
Housing and Urban Development (HUD) under the Super Notice
of Funding Availability (SuperNOFA) for Continuum of Care
Homeless Assistance Programs.
This application was approved by the Board of Supervisors
to support a regional plan to reduce the growing number
of homeless in Orange County. According to a recent County
survey, there are more than 18,000 homeless in Orange
County on any given night. The regional plan contained
in this application demonstrates Orange County’s
communitywide commitment to address the problems of homelessness.
In partnership with the Housing & Community Development
Department (H&CD) and the CEO Homeless Coordinator,
hundreds of nonprofit organizations, cities and county
agencies worked collaboratively to complete this regional
application.
Last year, Orange County was awarded $6.8 million through
the SuperNOFA national competition. "While there
is no guarantee that we will receive funding this year,
I believe Orange County has once again submitted a comprehensive
homeless assistance plan. For the past two years, our
strategy has benefited the county and the recipients of
these services," said Chuck Smith, Chairman of the
Board of Supervisors.
"Residents of Orange County can be proud of the coordinated
manner in which the County, cities, nonprofit organizations,
and interested individuals came together and developed
a comprehensive and well thought out application for funds,"
said Karen Roper, CEO Homeless Coordinator.
"The County’s partnership with the community
gives us the edge we need to compete on a national basis;
we have developed a system for success," said Paula
Burrier-Lund, Director of H&CD.
The $8 million dollar grant request is on behalf of the
following 12 applicants: OC Health Care Agency; Helping
Our Mentally Ill Experience Success (HOMES, Inc.); Serving
People in Need (SPIN); Orange Coast Interfaith Shelter;
Fullerton Interfaith Shelter; Thomas House; Saddleback
Community Outreach; Mental Health Association of OC; Orangewood
Children’s Foundation; Olive Crest; and Shelter for
the Homeless.
Proposed projects include: 59 new Section 8 Rental Assistance
Housing Vouchers for homeless who are mentally ill, dually
diagnosed or who have substance abuse issues; 43 existing
and 60 new transitional housing beds and more than 3,800
individual, supportive services for homeless families,
individuals and homeless emancipated youth. Services include,
but are not limited to, substance abuse treatment, mental
health care, child care, job training, education, and
life skills training.
Legal