Children and Families Commission of Orange County Awards $14 million for Shelters and Services for Homeless Children

Posted July 2, 2008
Contact: Michael Ruane
(714) 834-2307
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Prop 10 funding targets successful programs benefiting homeless children and their families.

Irvine, CA – Homeless children and families in Orange County received a boost today when the Children and Families Commission of Orange County voted to award $14 million in Prop. 10 funds to increase its support of homeless shelter providers and services for mothers and children.

Included in the allocation is $10 million for the HomeAid Orange County’s development of new transitional housing projects through a new partnership with the Affordable Housing Clearinghouse and Community Development Financial Institution Clearinghouse.

The Commission’s funds will also benefit a variety of other homeless shelter and service providers, including Casa Teresa, Precious Life Shelter, Inc., and Mercy House. Another beneficiary is a new, innovative program developed by the County Public Health Officer Dr. Eric Handler to address the emergency and chronic health care needs of the homeless in Orange County called the Comprehensive Health Access Team for the Homeless (CHAT-H).

“The Commission’s commitment to addressing the needs of homeless children remains one of the cornerstones of our efforts to ensure all children are healthy and ready to learn when they enter school. We have proven we can make a difference, and we will continue to look for new programs and partnerships that help us achieve our goals,” said commission Chair Maria Minon, MD.

The funding represents a renewal of the Commission’s ongoing commitment to serving homeless families in Orange County at a time when homeless shelters and support services face significant challenges due to the slowing economy.

“Like all non-profit groups, the current economy is impacting our fund raising efforts and presenting added challenges to at-risk families, which makes the Commission’s support even more significant,” said Lissa Callaghan, Board Member and Donor Liaison of Casa Teresa. “Without the Commission, we would not be able to help as many mothers and children in need of shelter and emotional support.”

Past Commission support has fueled the completion of five shelter expansion projects in partnership with HomeAid that added 200 beds to Orange County’s transitional shelter capacity. Through its agreements with Casa Teresa and Precious Life, the Commission has helped provide lodging and meals (bed nights) to children and families in Orange County. In fact, over the past 15 months Casa Teresa and Precious Life have provided more than 16,000 bed nights.

Breakdown of $14 million allocation approved by the Commission:

• $10 million for Affordable Housing Clearinghouse and Community Development Financial Institution Clearinghouse to facilitate development of transitional shelters by HomeAid Orange County over a five year period beginning July 1, 2008
• $1.5 million for Casa Teresa to continue providing housing and supportive services to homeless mothers through 2011 (3 year renewal)
• $1.5 million set aside for potential support of new transitional shelters and services for mothers with newborns and infants at the former Tustin Marine Base
• $525,000 for Precious Life Shelter to provide housing and supportive services to homeless mothers through 2011 (3 year renewal)
• $175,000 for Mercy House to provide enhanced shelter services to families between July 1, 2008 and June 30, 2009
• $100,000 for HomeAid Orange County to support new project development and technical assistance between July 1, 2008 and June 30, 2009
• $100,000 for the Orange County Department of Education to coordinate emergency shelter supportive services to the Comprehensive Health Access Team for the Homeless (CHAT-H) between July 1, 2008 and June 30, 2009
• $100,000 for Casa Teresa to provide infant care center services for their resident mothers through December 31, 2008

About the Children and Families Commission of Orange County
The Children and Families Commission of Orange County oversees the allocation of funds from Proposition 10 that add a 50-cent tax on tobacco products sold in California to fund education, health care and child development programs for children from the prenatal stage to age five and their families with the goal to ensure all children are healthy and ready to learn when they enter school. For more information, please visit www.occhildrenandfamilies.com.