BUENA PARK, CA (March 22, 2007) — HomeAid Orange County, John Laing Homes, the Orange County Rescue Mission and the City of Buena Park are pleased to announce the Hope Family Housing-Buena Park groundbreaking ceremony to be held on Tuesday March 27, 2007 from 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m.

Partnership leaders, Steve Kabel, David Prolo and Eric Weinstein from John Laing Homes along with Jim Palmer, Orange County Rescue Mission, Scott Larson, HomeAid Orange County, and Buena Park Mayor, Patsy Marshall, city manager, Rick Warsinski and several council members are scheduled to attend this much-anticipated event.

Hope Family Housing –Buena Park became a vision of the Buena Park City Council after hearing a presentation  on the homeless issues in the county by Karen Roper, executive director, Office of Homeless Prevention and Aging. Soon after Roper’s initial report, council members decided to take an assertive approach and become part of the solution to the homeless problem within their community.  As part of that process they re-contacted Roper asking for her best recommendation regarding a next step scenario. 

Roper directed the council to HomeAid Orange County, the Building Industry Association’s philanthropic arm that builds and renovates homeless shelters.  The organization in turn, guided the council toward potential service providers - best qualified to own and operate a new facility that would meet the city’s needs.

Subsequent meetings led to the selection of the Orange County Rescue Mission ultimately chosen to manage and serve as the program liaison for the project.  At that point, with the three-pronged partnership in place, search for the appropriate site led to the city purchase of the Hope Family Housing-Buena Park property.

Soon after the property was purchased a fourth entity, the Children and Families Commission of Orange County led by executive officer, Mike Ruane joined the partnership with a commitment of $1.3 million dollars slated for Hope Family Housing construction funding.  The Children and Families Commission is a long time HomeAid Orange County supporter with $10 million in Proposition 10, ‘tobacco tax’ monies earmarked for HomeAid through various service providers including to date, Precious Life Shelter, and Casa Teresa, both serving homeless pregnant women.

Comprised of 16 units of townhouses and one management unit, Hope Family Housing-Buena Park’s 17-town home community will ultimately provide long-term housing with supportive assistance to homeless families, many transitioning from motels throughout the county.

The row townhome design concept, developed by architect, Bassenian/Lagoni was created to provide two separate areas each with a village green complete with a play area and landscaped grounds. In addition to the community green space, the townhome community will include a multi-purpose room, with each efficiency unit complete with a private courtyard, laundry and garage. The exteriors have been fashioned after the city’s historic roots offering a compatible aesthetic addition to the neighborhood.

 “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 our partners’ 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.

When completed, the Orange County Rescue Mission (OCRM) will manage Hope Family Housing’s day-to-day operations, providing an environment of independent living with supportive services.  Hope Family Housing residents will participate in a two-year program that includes job training, counseling and other services including life skills includes training that will assist them with their ultimate transition back into mainstream society.  Many of these OCRM services will be delivered via its “Strong Beginnings” mobile outreach program that offers medical services, food, and job training to the residents.

For information, contact HomeAid Orange County at (949) 553-9510 or visit www.homeaidoc.org.