You may be surprised to learn that an individual receiving minimum wage has to work 106 hours a week to afford a one-bedroom apartment in Santa Ana! These rising costs coupled with the shortage of affordable housing play a key role in the growing number of homeless served by HomeAid and its partners.
In an effort to meet this expanding need, HomeAid, the Building Industry Association’s charitable outreach was charged with the mission of building and renovating shelters. As a result of this effort HomeAid has completed 40 developments throughout Orange County and continues to add new projects serving a variety of homeless populations within our communities.
HOPE FAMILY HOUSING TEAM
Their newest undertaking Hope Family Housing- Buena Park is being led by Builder Captain, long time HomeAid supporter, John Laing Homes. Meeting the challenge head on- John Laing Homes has successfully recruited a predevelopment team including; architect, Bassenian/Lagoni Architects; landscape architect, Borthwick Guy Bettenhausen, Inc.; civil engineer, Bender and Associates; mechanical engineer, TAD Engineering, Inc.; soils engineer, LGC Geotechnical Companies, Inc.; structural engineer, Wright Engineers; electrical engineer, OMB Electricall Engineers, Inc.; sustainability and energy consultant, CTG Energies; and dry utilities, RGI. Additional consulting advice has been contributed by acoustical consultant, Mestre Greve Associates.
“The development, slated for completion by mid 2008, is a resourceful use of land and an opportunity to assist an undeserved housing group in the city,” said Jay Saltzberg, Buena Park planning manager, who went on to say that the city purchased the land about two years ago for approximately $1 million.
“We are impressed with HomeAid’s past projects. They are high quality,” Saltzberg said.”…they provide quality housing and resources, and other specialties that will be brought in to deal with (residents’) needs as they reenter society.”
“Hope Family Housing, an estimated $5.4 million project, relies heavily on donations for funding,” said David Prolo, vice president of the South Coast Division with Irvine-based John Laing Homes. “John Laing Homes has partnered with two other HomeAid Orange County projects; Emmanuel House in Santa Ana, and the Village of Hope currently under development in Tustin,” added Prolo, who said that his company espouses the idea of investing in the communities where they live and build.
Comprised of 16 town homes and one management unit situated on a one-acre site, Hope Family Housing-Buena Park will be operated by the Orange County Rescue Mission and will ultimately provide long-term housing with supportive assistance to homeless families, many of them will be transitioning from motels throughout the county.
PROGRAM DETAILS
The Orange County Rescue Mission’s Hope Family Housing Program is designed to provide a final phase of transition for homeless men, women and children that have progressed through various life-changing instruction. The primary focus of the program is to offer an environment of independent living with supportive services over a six month to two year period or longer. Residents will pay a monthly program fee on a sliding scale with a range of $400 to $1,020 a month to cover operational costs.
Eligibility will be determined at the time of referral and will include employment and maximum income qualifications. Residents will need to follow the Orange County Rescue Missions faith based high standards for conduct, safety and programmatic success.
The process for transition will take into account factors that led to the resident’s inability to live independently including; financial, parenting, educational, relational, vocational, addiction, and other issues. A combination of (1) assessing and remedying faults/weaknesses and (2) building strengths through identifying and meeting real-world expectations will be implemented.
Residents will be directed and equipped to begin planning from the outset of their residency in the program to transition from a moderately-to-very “dependent” setting (the Program) to a setting characterized by independent living.
This procedure will be outlined to the residents as a part of their application process and as a requirement of their acceptance into the Program. The measurable outcome for the residents will be independent self-sufficient living without the use of welfare.
Hope Family Housing is a great step forward in providing additional affordable housing stock to Orange County’s inventory. Each apartment ranging from 950-1,200 square feet has a kitchen, dining room, two or three bedrooms, a bathroom, laundry room and parking access. Additionally, there is a spacious common outdoor play area for children and 1,500 square foot common meeting/computer room.
CHILDREN & FAMILIES COMMISSION OFFERS ASSISTANCE
The Children & Families Commission of Orange County has approved construction funding citing the Buena Park project as an ideal use for the property. When completed, the development will add scarce transitional housing and will complement the care provider’s program for motel families. In addition Hope Family Housing will maximize self-sufficiency while providing an environment more conducive to learning for children 0-5 in homeless families. Hope Family Housing-Buena Park is scheduled to break ground early 2007. |
