Throughout HomeAid's 15 year history, builders their trade partners and associates have donated over $20 million of in-kind labor, materials and cash so that those less fortunate might be given the chance for a better life.

But there is much yet to be done…

Homelessness numbers are rising at an astounding rate - from 11,000 in 1999 to 35,000 in 2004, more than triple in just five years! People may not realize that the face of homelessness is changing, no longer is the 'man with the shopping cart' the homeless majority, in today's world families and children represent 65% of the homeless population.

The problem is a multi-layered one…beginning with rising housing costs that continue to outpace wages and benefits in Orange County, aggravated by the fact that the vacancy rate in Orange County is so low that landlords can ask top dollar for their rental units, making it extremely difficult - if not impossible - even for clients with housing vouchers to find a place to live.

The average Orange County rent is nearly $1,300 per month, consequently families earning $10.00 or less per hour simply cannot afford to put a roof over their heads. As you might imagine, any affordable housing is in high demand with reports indicating that on any given day there are as many as four lower income households competing for every affordable rental unit in the county!

Another core issue surrounding the challenge of housing for the homeless is community apathy and fear toward homeless persons. This kind of intolerance makes it particularly difficult to find appropriate sites for projects. The situation is exacerbated for homeless persons with special needs since the number of accessible housing units serving that population segment is limited.

As a result of these combined factors, thousands of families are trapped in a vicious cycle. With no affordable housing they move from couch to couch; to motels; to their cars; and ultimately on to city streets, many of them working one or more jobs, forced to join the ranks of the homeless.

But there is hope…

In an attempt to ease this problem HomeAid continues to reach out to the industry and community through its shelter development program. Time and again the industry answers the call, whether it's a small renovation or ground up-multi-million dollar project, men and women from a variety of trades and affiliations respond by unselfishly giving back to the communities in which they live and do business. As a result of this effort, HomeAid typically enables more than 6,000 homeless in any given year to find a safe haven where they have the chance to begin again.

With four projects in various stages of planning and construction, HomeAid Orange County and its partners continue their commitment to make a difference in the lives of the homeless. Two Thousand and Five promises to be another outstanding year as various partnerships work together to develop HomeAid's current projects (detailed below), which when completed will up the county's inventory by approximately 244 beds.

HOPE FAMILY HOUSING - BUENA PARK Supportive Housing for Homeless Families CARE PROVIDER: Orange County Rescue Mission BUILDER CAPTAIN: TBD ARCHITECT: Bassenian/Lagoni LANDSCAPE: TBD HOMEAID BOARD LIAISON: Lee Rogaliner PROJECT VALUE: $2.3 Million START DATE: TBD NO. OF BEDS ADDED 11-18 Housing Units

SAN MIGUEL RESIDENCE
Santa Ana, California
Supportive Housing for Homeless Individuals and Families

CARE PROVIDER: Mercy House
BUILDER CAPTAIN: Lennar/Greystone Homes
ARCHITECT: Bloodgood Sharp Buster & Bassenian/Lagoni Architects
DESIGNER: Creative Design Consultants/Ambrosia Interior Design
HOMEAID BOARD LIAISON: Doug Woodward, Lennar Southcoast Homebuilding
PROJECT VALUE: $600,000 +
START DATE Winter 2005
NO. OF BEDS ADDED 16 - Renovation + New Construction

VILLAGE OF HOPE Tustin, California Serving Homeless Families CARE PROVIDER: Orange County Rescue Mission BUILDER CAPTAIN: Oltmans Construction/William Lyon Homes Lennar Communities/John Laing Homes ARCHITECT: Gensler Architects/Axcess Architects HOMEAID BOARD LIAISONS: Bart Hansen - Nieupointe Enterprises Thom Steele - Hardwood Creations PROJECT VALUE: $11 Million (Construction of Barracks & New Construction) NO. OF BEDS ADDED 192 Beds in 2 Barracks totaling 82,000 Square Feet, Plus A 40,000 Square-Foot Multi-Purpose Facility, and an 8,000 Square Foot Chapel/Auditorium

FULLERTON INTERFAITH - NEW VISTA SHELTER Fullerton, California Serving Homeless Families CARE PROVIDER: Fullerton Interfaith Emergency Service BUILDER CAPTAIN: Brookfield Homes ARCHITECT: Lim Chang Rohling & Associates Lind & Associates Architecture HOMEAID BOARD LIAISON: Brian Geis - Brookfield Homes PROJECT VALUE: $250,000 NO. OF BEDS ADDED 1,900 Sq. Ft. New Construction