OC cities use COVID-19 grant money to address homeless crisis

Orange will solely be using the money towards supportive services for the homeless, whereas Fullerton will also be using the money towards a rental assistance program. Photo from The Panther Archives 

More than 5,000 people are without a home in Orange County.

To combat this, Fullerton and Orange are spending $3.6 million in COVID-19 grant money towards support services for the homeless in Orange County. 

The money arises from a COVID-19 stimulus bill signed by President Joe Biden in March 2021. Yet the money is now being used towards the Home Investment Partnership - American Rescue Plan (HOME-ARP), a program that allocates money toward homeless communities. 

The initiative was developed by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, as it provides billions to assist homelessness in the country. 

Orange City Councilmember Arianna Barrios said that she has concerns about issues involving the unhoused in Orange. 

“Orange is planning how to address its homeless crisis by making services available, yet self-sufficient,” Barrios told The Panther. “We knew we had to work on that long-term sustainability. We are taking all of the appropriate steps, and we need to work to ensure ongoing funding.”

The Orange City Council voted unanimously March 21 to use the money that is being allocated by HOME-ARP towards supportive services, while Fullerton officials decided to use it towards supportive services and tenant-based rental assistance programs. These services include childcare, housing counseling, mental health services and legal services. 

Orange County is spending its money towards the revamping of the services lost after the eviction of Mary’s Kitchen in June 2022. Mary’s Kitchen is a non-profit organization that aims to offer care to those in need, including the unhoused population. Prior to its eviction, the nonprofit had been operating in the city of Orange for more than 30 years. 

The organization's mission is to “provide support, empower, and advocate for the homeless citizens of Orange County.”  

Gloria Suess, the owner of Mary’s Kitchen, was unaware of the grant funding. Since the eviction, Suess started a Mary’s Kitchen mobile food pantry in Anaheim, which she says is flourishing. They provide groceries and other services to any one in need.

“We have a bunch of volunteers here,” Suess said. “Anybody can come in and get a box of food, and they can do so as many times as they feel is needed.”

The pantry provides goods such as toiletries and food to the homeless in Anaheim, and they have been delivering to churches, apartments and schools. So far, the pantry has not advertised as much as they used to when they had a permanent location because they wanted to keep an eye on finances. 

Since its closure, Mary’s Kitchen’s duties have been taken up under the ownership of The HUB OC, which is a set of programs made to meet the “physical, relational and emotional needs of Orange County and the world of spiritual transformation.” Yet, Suess says that there is concern on how these duties have been addressed in their new operations. 

“We (used to) cook and serve (food) right away. They now bring the food in, and the homeless are complaining about it,” Suess said. “They have legitimate complaints.”

The HUB OC uses a different approach towards helping the homeless in OC. The organization uses a ticketing system to keep track of meals and who is being served. Even though this system has been efficient, it may lack a sense of comradery that was historically present at Mary’s Kitchen.

“Mary’s Kitchen did not cost any money, but the downsides on the other aspects was causing very large numbers,” Barrios said. “Every city has to look at how they are using the money and making sure that we knew we had to work on that long term sustainability.” 

The HUB OC first came to Mary’s Kitchen three years ago with a hope to cooperate with each other. However, Suess stated that they did not want to work with them because of the lack of control that Mary’s Kitchen would have in fundraising. 

Working conditions have improved since the control of The HUB OC, according to Barrios. The city has also seen improvements, as there has been a 40% increase in people getting off the streets, according to a police report from the City of Orange. 

“People are looking at it in a uniquely ‘Orange way’: people are looking to help and donate, (and) people want to help others in difficult situations,” Barrios said. “Orange is really all about that at the end of the day.”