NEWPORT BEACH, Calif. (April 28, 2022) — On April 27, the Orange County Community Foundation (OCCF) hosted Help Them Home – a collaborative Giving Day to support 24 OC nonprofits working to combat homelessness and its devastating impact on the community. OCCF announced 2,654 donors raised $2,385,897 for participating nonprofits to support their missions and goals.
Homeless population statistics put into context how vital these nonprofits are to this vulnerable population. There are an estimated 580,466 homeless individuals in the U.S.– 28% of whom reside in California[1]. And in Orange County, according to United to End Homelessness[2], there are nearly 7,000 homeless individuals – including more than 300 veterans and almost 700 seniors– on any given night. More than 32,000 Orange County children are unstably housed and the Orange County 2021 Community Indicators Report states that 43% of the homeless-sheltered population are families with children.
Each nonprofit organization involved in the Help Them Home Giving Day works directly with Orange County’s homeless population and offers a range of housing, community outreach, education, and supportive services. Participating nonprofits included American Family Housing, Casa Teresa, Inc., Charity On Wheels, City Net, Colette’s Children’s Home, Inc., The Eli Home, Inc., Families Forward, Family Assistance Ministries, Family Promise of Orange County, Friendship Shelter, Inc., Grandma’s House of Hope, HomeAid Orange County, Homeless Intervention Services of OC, Illumination Foundation, Mercy House Living Centers, Our Father’s Table, Pathways of Hope, Robyne’s Nest, Serving People in Need, Inc., South County Outreach, StandUp for Kids, Orange County, The Salvation Army Orange County, Thomas House Family Shelter, and WISEPlace.
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“We are proud to support the exemplary nonprofits involved in this year’s Help Them Home Giving Day,” said Shelley Hoss, president and CEO of the Orange County Community Foundation. “These organizations deliver critical services and solutions for thousands of Orange County residents experiencing housing insecurity, which is crucial for us to address as a community.”
The Help Them Home campaign is part of OCCF’s iheartOC Collaborative Giving Days. This annual initiative designates 10 cause-specific giving days focused on critical community issues. The online giving model matches OC nonprofits with shared missions – from homelessness and workforce development to preserving ecosystems and supporting local veterans – to gain momentum on one shared day and leverage a combined outreach effort for collective success. In 2021, the 10 days secured support from 8,485 donors and raised a record $4.5 million for 112 local nonprofits. Since its start in 2015, OCCF’s Collaborative Giving Days have raised nearly $15 million for Orange County nonprofits.
To give online during the 24-hour Giving Day, please visit help-them-home-giving-day.ocnonprofitcentral.org. For more information about Orange County Community Foundation Collaborative Giving Days, please visit oc-cf.org/givingdays.
About Orange County Community Foundation
Founded in 1989, the Orange County Community Foundation (OCCF) works with donors, strengthens the local nonprofit sector and works to find solutions to community needs. Since its inception, OCCF has awarded more than $870 million in grants and scholarships, ranking the organization as the 3rd most active grantmaker among all U.S. community foundations. For more information, visit oc-cf.org or call 949-553-4202. Be a part of our conversation on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. View OCCF’s 2021 annual report here.
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[1] https://policyadvice.net/insurance/insights/homelessness-statistics
[2] https://www.unitedtoendhomelessness.org/2019-point-in-time-count
