In November 2007 the walls were raised for the Hope Family Housing – Buena Park project, an extension to our Hope Family Housing program in the city of Orange. When completed Hope Family Housing - Buena Park, will consist of housing for a manager’s apartment and 16 units of long-term transitional housing for homeless families. The project is a great step forward in providing additional affordable housing stock to Orange County's inventory. The units range from 900 to 1,100 square feet. Each apartment will have a kitchen, dining room, two or three bedrooms, a bathroom, laundry room, and access for parking. In addition, there is a spacious common outdoor play area for children and a 1,500 square foot common meeting room and computer room.

Most residents will come from motel environments or Orange County Rescue Mission facilities where they have progressed through the Strong Beginnings Program. It is designed to provide a final phase of transition for homeless men, women and children with the primary focus of the program to provide hope through an environment of independent living with support services over a six-month to two-year, or longer, period.

A City with a Vision to Develop Homes for Homeless Families

Deciding to become a part of the solution to the homeless challenges facing their community, the City of Buena Park designated land to be developed to house homeless families. HomeAid Orange County was selected as the developer and the Orange County Rescue Mission was chosen to administer the life-changing support services.

HomeAid Orange County, the community outreach arm of the Building Industry Association of Orange County with the mission to build dignified housing where homeless families and individuals can rebuild their lives, is a perfect fit to lead this estimated $5.4 million project. This partnership exemplifies the generosity of many entities uniting to help homeless families. More than $2.5 million in engineering, construction materials, labor and services will be sought by HomeAid and Builder Captain John Laing Homes.

John Laing Homes is providing labor, management and supervision to the project. They are also receiving pledges from specialty contractors and suppliers who are donating their services, materials and talents.

Bassenian/Lagoni Architects created the row townhome design concept with exteriors that have been fashioned after the city’s historic roots offering a compatible aesthetic to the neighborhood.

Strategic funding support from the Children and Families Commission of Orange County and the Federal Home Banks through Bank of America will help the housing to be completed by late spring 2008.

Similar to Hope Family Housing – El Modena, occupancy guidelines are as follows:

• Residents will pay a monthly rent on a sliding scale with an approximate range of $490 to $1,205 a month to cover operational costs. An on-site Hope Family Housing manager will provide accountability, safety oversight, and coordination.
• 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 Mission's 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 to a setting characterized by independent living.
• This process will be outlined to residents as a part of the application process and as a requirement of acceptance into Hope Family Housing in Buena Park. The measurable outcome for the residents will be independent self-sufficient living without the use of welfare.