Grandma's House of Hope
OUR STORY
Who We Are
Our Work
Grandma’s House of Hope has been providing housing and wrap-around services since 2007 to single adult men and women with trauma who historically have fallen through the cracks. Our mission of empowering the invisible populations of Orange County is about reaching those who have been cast aside and moved into the shadows of our society due to their disabilities, illnesses, addictions, incarceration, and trauma histories. In order to effectively reach these individuals, we remove barriers to housing and services.
How We're Different
Our Emergency, Transitional and Bridge Housing Programs are far different from large-scale shelters, which make up the majority of emergency housing beds in Orange County. Our guests live in one of our 11 single-family safe, warm and inviting homes, offering 152 beds year-round. Walking into one of our homes feels like you are visiting friends and family.
24-Hour Care
With our 24-hour coverage to provide around-the-clock support, we serve each participant with safety, acceptance, compassion, honesty, integrity, love, and respect. We accept each survivor where they are, provide support in setting goals, mapping out a plan, and accessing resources to reach their goals, building skills, awareness, safety, confidence, and self-sufficiency, and ultimately helping them to achieve and succeed in permanent housing.
Time to Heal
Unlike many shelters that focus on moving participants up and out as quickly as possible, we focus on helping survivors heal from the trauma that they have experienced and build new lives for themselves at their own pace. Participants who require more time to heal and stabilize before moving into permanent housing can stay longer to recover. Unlike most shelters, we allow participants unrestricted access to the homes so there is a feeling of comfort and a sense of belonging.
Participant-Centered
While at Grandma’s House of Hope, our participants live in a community - they support each other in a warm, safe environment while being guided by our staff towards healing and restoration. They receive care coordination, attend housing meetings to foster community, case management/advocacy to promote growth, counseling to promote healing, food and services to meet basic needs, and housing navigation. We also provide life-skills in areas like meal prep, cleaning, and budgeting, safety planning, trauma-informed supportive services, wardrobe assistance, work development and tools to inspire independence and long-term healing.
Individualized Guidance
At Grandma’s House of Hope participants receive the guidance, support and practical tools to move towards growth and a life of self-sufficiency. Our Case Managers create a Care Plan that is tailored to the needs of each participant. We coordinate mental health counseling, provide trauma-informed supportive services, help navigate the County Services system, teach personal budgeting and life-skills, provide food and other services to meet basic needs, work development and wardrobe assistance.
Continued Care
Upon graduation, our participants move on to permanent housing taking with them new friendships, a support system and a better way of life. For up to two years after graduation, we offer AfterCare Services continuing the guidance and support they received in the program. Graduates can also stay connected by joining, Grandma's Family Tree, our alumni network receiving additional support and resources as long as they need.
Mission Statement
We provide vulnerable adults experiencing homelessness in Orange County with emergency and transitional housing to regain stability, well-being, and lasting self-sufficiency.
Background Statement
Grandma's House of Hope’s (GHH) founder became homeless with her young son after she found the courage to leave an abusive relationship. After three years of homelessness, due to the love and support of those around her, she was able to find healing and stable housing.
Grandma’s House of Hope opened a grassroots emergency shelter in 2004 with a 10-bed home for women experiencing trauma and abuse. We offered a safe respite for elderly women, a place for healing and rebuilding. We welcomed them into our homes and our hearts. Since then, our program has expanded to bring even deeper healing to the community—providing restorative housing to unhoused individuals, offering tools to heal the soul and mind, through eleven welcoming homes.
Impact Statement
Mission Efficiency
-94% of all 2024 expenditures directly supported housing program services.
-Last year, volunteers donated 20,296 hours, equal to $405,920 in community-supported services.
-Our housing model in 2024 maintained at least 85% bed occupancy.
-Since 79% of our participants were unemployed when they entered into our program and 45% had zero income, the partnerships with employment development agencies provide invaluable resources for self-sufficiency.
Program Reach & Capacity
-350 unique individuals served in 2024 (exceeding goal of 320).
-Expanded Behavioral Health Bridge Housing (BHBH) in December 2024
2024 Participant Outcomes
-75% of participants experienced improved physical and mental health and overall well-being.
-97% reported that their medical and mental health needs were effectively addressed through expanded access to care.
-75% of our clients attended group or individual therapy while in our program.
-47% of participants secure stable, permanent homes upon exiting our program.
-An additional 28% transitioned to positive, stability-focused placements, including higher-level care, residential treatment programs, and other supportive environments designed to help them continue progressing.
Long-Term Support & Community Building
-2025 Launch: GHH Alumni Association established to provide ongoing peer support, mentorship, and continued stability networks for program graduates.
-Aftercare Program–which provides 2 years of continued case management–has tripled it’s numbers since hiring a dedicated Aftercare Case Manager in mid-2025.
Needs Statement
Make a One-Time Donation
Help Where it is Most Needed. Together we fight the stigma surrounding people experiencing homelessness and provides restorative and compassionate housing and supportive services to those who are struggling the most. No matter how much you give, your gift serves the people who fall through the cracks in our system of care and are the most difficult to serve.
Become a Monthly Donor
Journey with Us Our unique program allows participants a longer stay so they have time to heal and meet their financial, mental and physical health goals—ultimately leading to stable, permanent housing.
Double Your Impact!
Help Raise Money for Grandma's House of Hope Some employers participate in a donation matching program through Double the Donation. See if your employer matches your gift.
Volunteer Opportunities
Subscribe to our Newsletter on our website. Follow us on Instagram, Facebook, X and LinkedIn for announcements.
Geographic Areas Served
Grandma's House of Hope is based in Orange and serves unhoused adult individuals in Orange County.
Top Three Populations Served
- Homeless Individuals
- People with Disabilities
- Veterans
Statement from the Board Chair/President
Leland Proimos, GHH Board Co-Chair
My early experiences in helping others started with a focus on helping survivors of domestic violence and trafficking. Grandma’s House of Hope helps even a wider variety of individuals in need. Our homes provide a welcoming and nurturing environment for a diverse variety of homeless individuals who might not find assistance through other programs, that’s why our mission is to Empower The Invisible Population of Orange County.
We are also much more than just 11 housing sites providing various forms of shelter from emergency and bridge to transitional housing. Our case managers promote growth, our counseling partners facilitate healing and our housing navigators guide our participants towards stability.
When you donate to Grandma’s House of Hope you are helping us create stronger, more confident and independent individuals and helping to break the cycle of poverty, incarceration, homelessness and abuse.
Grandma’s House of Home has received a platinum rating as a nonprofit organization and 94% of the revenue we receive goes directly to fund our programs.
CONTACT
Grandma's House of Hope
765 The City Dr South
105
Orange, CA 92868
Irene Basdakis, ESQ.
Phone: 714-558-8600