ORANGE COUNTY'S UNITED WAY

ORANGE COUNTY UNITED WAY IS COMMITTED TO ENSURING LOCAL STUDENTS SUCCEED, OC FAMILIES GAIN FINANCIAL SECURITY, OUR UNHOUSED NEIGHBORS FIND A PLACE TO CALL HOME, AND EVERYONE GETS CONNECTED TO THE ASSISTANCE THEY NEED. WE SERVE HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF OUR RESIDENTS BY DELIVERING CRUCIAL PROGRAMS AND SERVICES DIRECTLY TO OUR COMMUNITIES. OUR UNIQUE APPROACH COMES FROM AN UNDERSTANDING THAT ORANGE COUNTY'S MOST CRITICAL ISSUES ARE INTER-RELATED, AND WE MUST TACKLE THEM IN AN INTERCONNECTED WAY TO PROVIDE LONG-TERM SOLUTIONS THAT BREAK THE CYCLE. THIS INFORMS THE WORK WE FOCUS ON THROUGH OUR KEY INITIATIVES AND KEY SERVICE: UNITED FOR STUDENT SUCCESS AIMS TO ENSURE LOCAL STUDENTS RECEIVE THE SUPPORT THEY NEED TO STAY ON TRACK IN SCHOOL AND GRADUATE ON TIME READY FOR COLLEGE, CAREER, AND LIFE. PROGRAM OFFERINGS: . DESTINATION GRADUATION AIMS TO INCREASE THE HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION RATE BY HELPING BOTH STUDENTS AND PARENTS UNDERSTAND THAT HIGHER EDUCATION IS ATTAINABLE AND ACCESSIBLE, REGARDLESS OF BACKGROUND. OFFERINGS INCLUDE EXCITING COLLEGE AND CAREER EXPLORATION, FINANCIAL AID AND SCHOLARSHIP OPPORTUNITIES, COLLEGE FIELD TRIPS, APPLICATION SUPPORT, LEADERSHIP SKILLS, AND MORE. . YOUTH CAREER CONNECTIONS OFFERS WORK-BASED LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES THAT INFUSE CLASSROOM CURRICULUMS WITH REAL-WORLD CAREER EXPERIENCES BY CONNECTING STUDENTS DIRECTLY TO LEADING LOCAL EMPLOYERS FOR HANDS-ON ACTIVITIES SUCH AS INDUSTRY SITE VISITS, INTERNSHIPS, AND MORE. . SENIOR YEAR MENTORSHIP PROGRAM HELPS MOTIVATED HIGH SCHOOL SENIORS FROM UNDERREPRESENTED DISTRICTS TO STAY ON TRACK AND GRADUATE ON TIME. MENTORING FROM LEADING PROFESSIONALS AND A ROBUST VIRTUAL WORKSHOP SERIES TEACH STUDENTS ESSENTIAL LIFE AND CAREER SKILLS TO POSITION THEM FOR FUTURE SUCCESS. UNITED TO END HOMELESSNESS IS COMMITTED TO ENDING HOMELESSNESS IN ORANGE COUNTY SO THAT EVERYONE HAS A SAFE AND AFFORDABLE PLACE TO CALL HOME AND OPPORTUNITIES TO THRIVE. THE GOAL IS TO ACTIVATE IMMEDIATE AND LONG-TERM HOUSING-FIRST SOLUTIONS ACROSS OUR COMMUNITY THROUGH COLLABORATION WITH THE COUNTY'S TOP BUSINESS, PHILANTHROPIC, GOVERNMENTAL, FAITH-BASED, AND NONPROFIT LEADERS. PROGRAMS: . WELCOMEHOMEOC IS OUR HOUSING NAVIGATION AND LANDLORD INCENTIVE PROGRAM, WHICH HELPS INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES WHO ARE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS AND HOLDING A RENTAL ASSISTANCE VOUCHER TO SECURE HOUSING IN PRIVATE MARKET APARTMENTS AND ENSURES SUPPORTIVE SERVICES ARE PROVIDED SO THEY CAN REMAIN HOUSED FOR THE LONG-TERM. . WHATEVER IT TAKES IS A PROGRAM LAUNCHED WITH CALOPTIMA HEALTH FOR MEMBERS EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS AND HOUSING INSECURITY. THE PROGRAM EXPEDITES ACCESS TO FLEXIBLE FUNDS, INCENTIVIZES PROPERTY OWNERS, AND COORDINATES WITH 30+ COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATIONS TO FIND POSITIVE RESOLUTIONS. . PUBLIC AWARENESS & EDUCATION: WE HOLD WORKSHOPS, HOST COMMUNITY CHATS, AND ENGAGE IN BROAD PUBLIC AWARENESS ACTIVITIES TO HELP BREAK DOWN MYTHS SURROUNDING HOMELESSNESS AND PROVIDE UP-TO-DATE STATISTICS AND BEST PRACTICES FOR SOLVING HOMELESSNESS IN ORANGE COUNTY. . HOUSING CHAMPIONS ADVOCACY NETWORK RECRUITS, TRAINS, ORGANIZES, AND EQUIPS LOCAL RESIDENTS TO ENGAGE IN ADVOCACY IN THEIR COMMUNITIES FOR SOLUTIONS TO END HOMELESSNESS. UNITED FOR FINANCIAL SECURITY EMPOWERS ORANGE COUNTY FAMILIES THROUGH PROGRAMS THAT FOCUS ON THE MOST ESSENTIAL TOOLS TO BUILD FINANCIAL STABILITY. PROGRAMS: . OC FREE TAX PREP HELPS FAMILIES KEEP THEIR HARD-EARNED MONEY BY SAVING ON PREPARATION FEES, CLAIMING TAX CREDITS, AND RECEIVING THEIR REFUNDS QUICKLY AND SAFELY, PROVIDING A SAFETY NET FOR LOCAL HOUSEHOLDS TO PUT TOWARD BILLS, CAR REPAIRS, GROCERIES, AND OTHER BASIC NEEDS. . SPARKPOINT OC PROMOTES FINANCIAL EMPOWERMENT THROUGH FREE ONE-TO-ONE FINANCIAL COACHING TO INCREASE INCOME, MANAGE CREDIT, AND BUILD ASSETS THROUGH SAVINGS AND ASSET PLANNING TO REACH GOALS LIKE BUYING A HOME OR PAYING FOR COLLEGE. . UPSKILL OC, OUR WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM, IS AN INNOVATIVE, COLLABORATIVE APPROACH TO BRIDGING THE SKILLS GAP IN VARIOUS INDUSTRIES AND CREATING PATHWAYS TO JOBS THAT PAY A LIVING WAGE. IN JULY 2023, WE ADDED OUR KEY SERVICE, 2-1-1 ORANGE COUNTY (211OC) RECOGNIZED AS A CRITICAL LINK FOR CONNECTING RESIDENTS TO COMMUNITY RESOURCES. THROUGH 211OC, RESOURCES ARE BEING ALLOCATED MORE EQUITABLY, SERVICES CAN BE ACCESSED MORE EFFECTIVELY, AND UNMET NEEDS AND BARRIERS ARE BEING IDENTIFIED SO WE CAN APPROPRIATELY ADDRESS THEM. COMPONENTS: . HOTLINE: A FREE, CONFIDENTIAL, 24/7 HOTLINE PROVIDES IMMEDIATE CONNECTIONS TO HEALTHCARE, HOUSING ASSISTANCE, FOOD SUPPORT, AND MORE. CALLERS CAN REACH HELP ANYTIME VIA PHONE, TEXT, OR WEB SEARCH. . PARTNER NETWORK: THOUSANDS OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICE PROVIDERS COLLABORATE THROUGH OUR COMMUNITY INFORMATION EXCHANGE (CIE), DELIVERING WHOLE-PERSON SUPPORT AND ENSURING INDIVIDUALS AREN'T RETRAUMATIZED BY RETELLING THEIR STORIES. THIS ALLOWS FOR COMPASSIONATE, COORDINATED CARE. CURRENTLY, 211OC CONNECTS PEOPLE IN OC WITH 3,000+ SOCIAL SERVICES PROGRAMS. . COMMUNITY DATA AND INSIGHTS: THROUGH THE HOTLINE, PARTNER NETWORK, CIE, AND THE HOMELESS MANAGEMENT INFORMATION SYSTEM (HMIS), 211OC COLLECTS VITAL DATA THAT REVEALS COMMUNITY NEEDS AND SERVICE GAPS.

PROGRAM SERVICE EXPENSE ALLOCATIONS ARE COMPRISED OF COMMUNITY IMPACT GRANT PROGRAMS AND INITIATIVES THAT FULFILL ORANGE COUNTY UNITED WAY'S MISSION. IN ADDITION TO RUNNING OUR OWN INITIATIVES, THIS INCLUDES PROGRAM MANAGEMENT OF COMMUNITY WIDE COLLABORATIVES. OCUW PROVIDES EVALUATION AND MONITORING OF ALL GRANT PARTNERSHIPS; SUPPORT OF CRITICAL COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS; LEADERSHIP AND PARTICIPATION IN COALITIONS AND COMMITTEES; COMMUNITY OUTREACH EFFORTS; CAPACITY TRAINING FOR FUNDED PARTNERS; VOLUNTEER ENGAGEMENT EFFORTS; AND STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIPS WITH LOCAL FUNDER COLLABORATIVES IN THE AREAS OF EDUCATION, INCOME, AND HOUSING.