Homeless Intervention Services of Orange County supports people to overcome homelessness and achieve independence.
Everybody has a place to call home, a life that is meaningful and a sense of belonging.
Homeless Intervention Services of Orange County (HIS-OC) has a remarkable history of helping unhoused and housing insecure families since 1989. The organization began to take shape when a farmhouse owned by Placentia Presbyterian Church became a temporary shelter for a local family who was found living in a park, with an expectant mother, and no other place to go. The farmhouse became known as HIS House, a mission of Placentia Presbyterian Church.
For almost 35 years, our transitional housing program has continued to grow and provide comprehensive wraparound services for families including:
- Transitional housing which includes a private bedroom for each family, common living and dining rooms, study areas, working kitchens, and other amenities which are crucial to making a house a home.
- Case Management.
- Job skills and placement assistance.
- Connections with physical and mental health services.
- Documentation assistance.
- Family reunification (the only comprehensive family reunification organization serving both mothers and fathers in Orange County, CA).
- Parenting classes.
- Financial literacy classes.
- And so much more at our home where we practice radical hospitality… working every day to make sure our residents are met where they are as whole, unique, incredible people who are so much more than their present circumstances.
The family transitional housing location can now house up to 54 people, or 12 families as they work, raise children, and recuperate from the trauma of homelessness and move towards permanent housing.
After 30 years of operation, thousands of people served, and numerous additions to the house, in 2020 HIS House became its own 501 (c)(3) nonprofit to expand services beyond the transitional shelter. While the mission remains the same, we have also implemented several new programs to help more people overcome homelessness and achieve independence:
Transitional Aged Youth
A HIS-OC Program
Our Transitional Aged Youth (TAY) program was created out of a long-observed need to provide wraparound services for a unique population
HomeShare OC
A HIS-OC Program
A matching program pairing homeless college students with local seniors so that both parties can thrive and assist each other in a shared home
Housing Connection
A HIS-OC Program
A networking and referral program for people who need services other than, or in addition to, transitional housing
Resource Centers
A HIS-OC Program
A networking and referral program for people who need services other than, or in addition to, transitional housing
A BRIGHT FUTURE
Now, 2020 turned out a little different than we all planned but we found ways to forge on. With a lot of support from our community and donors and more than a little elbow grease, our house is not just one farmhouse offering shelter to a few families. It’s more. The cozy yellow and green house is still here, but it’s bigger, stronger, better, and brighter than ever before, with room and services to assist the growing number of people who need us. Without picking up a hammer, we’ve added to the structure of HIS House. And because we are now more than just a house, we have changed our name to Homeless Intervention Services of Orange County and acquired our own 501c3 status. We’ve also brightened our color scheme to reflect the greater hope and expanded service we can now bring to the community. Come on in . . . the house is bigger.