THE FACE OF HOMELESSNESS

The human tragedy brought about by the wrath of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita transported the reality of sudden homelessness into the daily lives of those of us glued to our televisions as we watched homes and lifestyles disintegrate on the six o’clock news.

Most of us can’t imagine that a natural disaster, health crisis, divorce or loss of job might lead us - or our loved ones - to eek out a life on the streets.  But being without a safety net is more commonplace than you might expect, and the ensuing dynamics of the downward spiral caused by nature’s rage or other unexpected catastrophes can render a once productive family helpless and homeless.

Natural disaster aside, the reality is that the face of homelessness is changing. Yes, there are the stereotypical disheveled men and women wielding shopping carts who - because of addiction, mental illness or other dysfunctions - were led to an inability or unwillingness to improve their own situations.  Surprisingly, however, these people represent only a tiny fraction of American’s total homeless population, with families now in the lead as the largest growing segment.

HomeAid Orange County, the nonprofit organization founded 16 years ago by the Orange County Chapter of the Building Industry Association was established for the purpose of providing temporary housing for this growing population, and has to date successfully developed 37 shelters throughout Orange County.

Katrina Hurricane Evacuees get help at HomeAid shelter Development, Village of Hope

HOMEAID’S ALLEGIANCE TO CHANGE
The backbone of HomeAid Orange County comes from its alliance with the Building Industry Association. The unsung heroes of HomeAid’s 16 years of success can be found wielding hammers, stretching measuring tapes and mixing cans of paint - tasks that transcend a construction site and translate into homes for our neighbors down on their luck. Many of these participating trades and suppliers have come back to HomeAid again and again giving more so that others might suffer less; it is this commitment that serves as the anchor to HomeAid’s growth. This support and dedication has launched HomeAid as the largest provider of homeless shelters, not only in Orange County, but also in the nation.

Thousands of lives continue to be transformed, and communities improved because homebuilders and their trade partners give their time, skills and assets to provide shelter and a safe caring environment. HomeAid Orange County would like to express its gratitude to the builders who contribute so unselfishly; to the hundreds of trade partners and associates who give of their time and talent; to the corporate donors; the community and individuals - all of whom come together time and again offering their resources. 

Thank you for your continued generosity in 2005, without this expression of support HomeAid’s shelter development program would not exist.

Paragon Schmid installs weather stripping at Village of Hope

HOMEAID ORANGE COUNTY’S 2005 SHELTER UPDATES

VILLAGE OF HOPE…RAMPING UP TO ASSIST HURRICANE VICTIMS

A prime example of one of HomeAid’s most aggressive developments is the Village of Hope, a $11 million dollar multi-use facility located on 5.1 acres of the Tustin Marine Corps Air Station slated for completion early in 2006. Oltmans Construction is leading the team of the Builder Captains including William Lyon Homes, Lennar, and John Laing Homes. Gensler and Axcess Architects provided the project design.

Village of Hope Taking Shape

As 2005 comes to a close Building A is awaiting underground utilities while Building B has begun site work with electrical, gas, and water plan details in final stages.  Over 550 hurricane evacuees have received assistance at the Village of Hope where temporary occupancy tasks are being addressed by the development team with the hope of accelerating temporary shelter provisions for hurricane evacuees.   

The Village of Hope is HomeAid’s most ambitious undertaking to date, and the largest shelter development serving temporarily homeless families in the state.

San Miguel Residence Open for Business

SAN MIGUEL RESIDENCE… UP & RUNNING

Another innovative HomeAid project is recently completed San Miguel Residences led by Builder Captains, Lennar Orange County Homebuilding and Lennar South Coast Homebuilding.  Now open for business, San Miguel Residence is a two-structure development serving homeless individuals and families.  Care provider, Mercy House supplies the program and operations for these two residences; one a craftsman style new construction designed by Bassenian/Lagoni, and the other a Spanish craftsman style five-unit renovation designed by Bloodgood Sharp Buster.

InterCal provided the trenching at Fullerton Interfaith’s New Vista Shelter

FULLERTON INTERFAITH SHELTER… NEARING COMPLETION

HomeAid’s newest shelter development is a 1400 square-foot new construction for temporarily homeless families.  Brookfield Homes is serving as Builder Captain with dedication scheduled early in 2006. Lind & Associates Architecture provided the architecture component for this shelter development with early design contributions from Architect Lim Chang Rohling and Associates, iba+ and ima + design.