Four Graduations So Far in 2021!

Volunteers, donors, and staff have been very busy the last few weeks, as we have seen a rush of FOUR families graduating our program and moving into permanent housing!

Eduardo, Blanca, and their four children were overjoyed to receive a new start courtesy of a generous donation from Tony Jakstis, Founder of Operation Gift-a-Smile. With the coordination of their landlord, Anthony, Eduardo and Blanca received first and last month’s rent paid for, as well as a fully-furnished three bedroom home for their family. Now their children have a place to call home – complete with their own beds and activity areas! Operation Gift-a-Smile even stocked the kitchen with groceries and supplies. Check out our Facebook page @ocfamilypromise to see the home tour and the moment the family was presented with the keys to their new home! A HUGE THANK YOU to Tony and everyone at Operation Gift-a-Smile for their overwhelming generosity in providing the rental assistance, furnishings, food and so much more! Eduardo, Blanca, their four children, and everyone at Family Promise of Orange County are deeply moved by your act of kindness! Thank you!

James, a Veteran, and his son moved into our short-term housing in September of last year. Our program helped James to get back on his feet, and now he and his son have happily settled into their new home. Thank you to all of our donors who helped James and his son furnish their new apartment. We wish them well!

Jasmine and Magin came to us in December of last year in need of shelter for themselves and their three very young children. We are happy to report that the family has found permanent supportive housing and are on their way to a better future.

Raegan and her son, Nehemiah, came to us in August of 2020 and moved into our short-term housing. She endured some personal difficulties in the latter part of 2020, but now has a wonderful job and was able to save up for a new apartment for her and her son. Thank you to all of the generous donors who helped Raegan furnish her new apartment!

With these four families moving into permanent housing, we are able to accept new families experiencing homelessness into our program. So far this year, we have been able to shelter 20 people, including twelve children!

We happily look forward to even more families graduating into permanent housing in 2021! Together we CAN end family homelessness in Orange County!