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Updates from FSC

December 2021

Hello FSC Members, Partners and Stakeholders,

We would like to take this opportunity to say thank you for your dedication, leadership for continued commitment to the families we serve. Despite the ongoing challenges of the pandemic, you all continue to advance the mission of ending family homelessness in Orange County.

On behalf the Family Solutions Collaborative, staff, we wish you a wonderful holiday season and Happy New Year!

For the families,

Nikki Buckstead, Executive Director

Family Solutions Collaborative

Housing Policy Leadership Academy - 2022

With support from the State’s Regional Early Action Planning (REAP) grant program and to support the region’s efforts in response to recent state investments in planning to accelerate housing production and meet the goals of the Regional Housing Needs Allocation (RHNA), the Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG) has developed a series of trainings that will support elected officials, advocates, and interested stakeholders in moving forward a pro-housing development agenda.

SCAG recognizes the importance of addressing intersectional barriers to housing and welcomes public agency staff from all departments and divisions, including but not limited to: housing, planning, community and human services, parks and recreation, economic development, public works, public safety, public health, and more.

Who should attend:

• Education, healthcare and social services professionals

• Elected officials

• Planning commissioners

• Housing and tenant rights advocates

• Housing developers (building market rate, workforce, and affordable products for both rental and homeownership)

• Transit, climate and environment, and parks advocates

• Labor organizations

• Employers and anchor institutions

The SCAG Housing Policy Leadership Academy (SCAG-HPLA) offers a 10-session online training for emerging and established community leaders who want to better understand how to advance policy solutions to increase the supply and availability of affordable housing.

The course is grounded in the HPLA 5Ps - Produce, Preserve, Promote, Protect and Prevent framework, provides a foundation for examining the physical and social aspects of a healthy housing ecosystem. Applications are due by January 10, 2022.

Integration of Domestic Violence / Victim Service Providers in the family homeless response system

In 2020-2021, in an effort to ensure all families have access to timely, equitable and coordinated support to help end a family’s housing crisis, the Family Solutions Collaborative, in collaboration with our four Domestic Violence/Victim Service (DV/VS) member agencies and four of our Family Access Points worked to integrate the DV/VS Providers into the Family Coordinated Entry System in Orange County.

This is a best-practice to ensure all families experiencing a housing crisis have access to housing support services in a fair, coordinated and timely manner.

The relationship with our DV/VS agencies is crucial in the work we do to help prevent and end family homelessness. Their partnership and expertise is a valued voice in the collective work we do. We want to thank Human Options, Interval House, Laura’s House and WTLC, Inc., for their expertise and collaboration on this integration project!

To learn more about this innovative project between the Family Solutions Collaborative, the Domestic Violence Providers and Access Points, click HERE

We are hiring a Community Engagement Coordinator and a Family System Specialist. Join our innovative, amazing and dedicated team! Click below for position details and how to apply.

The Equity in OC Initiative’s goal is to achieve health equity. Housing is health equity! This initiative aims to:

• Be transformative

• Bring together a cross-sector of stakeholders, organizations, and community members

• Address the social conditions that impact health outcomes and the health system

Intended Audience

• Advocates

• Academics (P-12 and higher education, private and public institutions)

• Community-based organizations

• Community members

• Faith-based organizations

• Grassroots organizations

• Health systems

• Public leaders (ex. City managers, planners)

• Traditional and non-traditional providers

For questions, please contact HCA’s Office of Population Health and Equity ophe@ochca.com

FSC Training - Trauma Informed Services for Homeless Families

Continuing in our series of trainings for Family Solutions Collaborative Member agencies, in February we will have two sessions for “Trauma-Informed Care Services for Homeless Families”. Members - watch for an email for this training opportunity!

FSC Membership Meetings for Leadership

Join us on January 26th as we reconvene our FSC membership meetings - invitations have been emailed. We have some exciting updates along with a presentation from Cal Optima on their Cal AIM Program. You won’t want to miss this! Come learn about the their new Program which focuses on families experiencing homelessness and the community supports it will provide including: Housing Transition, Navigation Services, Housing Deposits and other services.

City Net, in partnership with the County of Orange, is hosting two Volunteer Information Sessions on Wednesday, December 22, 2021, from 4 PM - 5 PM, and Thursday, December 23, 2021, from 10 AM - 11 AM for interested volunteers. The sessions will be recorded and made available the following week.

During the Volunteer Information Sessions, you will learn about the new developments for the 2022 Point In Time Count and how you can volunteer in your community. Learn more at www.everyonecountsoc.org.