South County Outreach

Leading with dignity and respect, our mission is "Preventing hunger and homelessness by helping people help themselves".

South County Outreach has been providing services to our neighbors in need since 1989. What started out as an emergency food cupboard out of founder Ray Havert's insurance office, grew into a food pantry with the help of several dedicated volunteers. Since then, the organization has grown to meet the ever-changing needs of our community by adding rental assistance, utility assistance and affordable housing in South County Outreach-owned units. Today, in addition to the continuum of hunger and homeless prevention services, South County Outreach also operates a thrift store, and offers case management as a safety-net for our clientele.

South Orange County is a beautiful place to live and work but hidden in this affluent community are thousands of individuals, seniors, and families who are struggling each day to pay bills and put food on the table. The poverty prevention services offered by South County Outreach address the needs of low-income residents at the most basic levels: food, shelter, economic stability, and equity. Poverty, homelessness, and hunger do not discriminate based on race, age, or background. And yet, the COVID-19 pandemic made more visible the conditions that make some communities and individuals at higher risk for poor health, disease and death. Our approach to hunger and homelessness prevention begins with a human-centered approach - breaking down barriers to accessibility one person at a time, with dignity and respect.

During 2023, South County Outreach programs staved off the threat of homelessness and food insecurity for more than 8,000 community members - an increase of 20% over the previous year. In our client-choice food pantry, 37% of one-million pounds of the food distributed was fresh produce, which created greater access to healthy food that is often difficult to come-by for low-income earners. Homeless Prevention Services including eviction prevention and utility assistance ensured nearly 500 individuals with a warm place to call home. And to support clients on the road to self-sufficiency, 150 hours of educational programming was provided on topics like financial management, savings and budgeting.

In light of the rising demand for our preventative services, we’ve identified two specific pockets of poverty in South Orange County that have no access to food pantry or related support services and will be begin operating a second pantry location in 2024. In addition to expanding our physical footprint by adding a second food pantry location, our program is also growing to incorporate more individualized case management and wrap-around services to help clients set/reach goals related to food security and life stability.

To ensure we are able to continue meeting the needs of our neighbors, increased operational support is needed to enable deeper relationship building with clients, thus better addressing the root of each clients struggles. Community members can support beyond financial contributions by hosting food drives, donating gently used items to one of our thrift stores or organizing a group to come volunteer with us.

Housing services are available to all residents of Orange County.

Food Pantry services are appropriated for South Orange County residents, specifically those in the cities of Aliso Viejo, Foothill Ranch, Irvine, Laguna Beach, Laguna Woods, Laguna Hills, Laguna Niguel, Lake Forest, Mission Viejo, Rancho Santa Margarita, San Clemente, San Juan Capistrano, and the unincorporated areas of Trabuco Canyon. Should someone come to South County Outreach for food assistance but is not in our service area, they will receive food, and be directed to food pantries that are more local to their residence.

People are hungry and homeless for a wide variety of reasons. They lose jobs and then housing. Women run away to escape domestic violence. Ongoing health issues consume standard wages and cause exorbitant debt. Once homeless, the lack of housing, and inadequate access to the finances needed to secure new housing, act as other barriers that keep families from moving back into a permanent, stable home. During those times, people need kindness and support, along with the right tools to move forward. We work to support people through life’s changes and challenges to help them rebuild lives.

The members of both the governing board of directors and the advisory board at South County Outreach are made up of community leaders committed to helping our neighbors in times of crisis and need. Professionals from a broad variety of businesses and organizations volunteer their time and expertise to help govern this vital nonprofit organization.

As our communities come to grips with the tsunami of challenges caused by the coronavirus and resultant global quarantines, the work of South County Outreach is increasingly critical. South County Outreach board members see thousands of Orange County residents teetering on the cliff of homelessness, as jobs and income disappear and bills continue to demand payment.

With a three-decade track record of proven and reliable support, South County Outreach has developed a well-managed program to help people remain in their homes, learning to better manage their finances and plan for the future. South County’s core competency is the very thing that is needed most in our community right now: keeping people from becoming homeless.

It is clear that once a family becomes homeless, the climb back into stable housing is incredibly difficult. Saving for the down payments necessary is arduous. Keeping children rested, well nourished, clean, and ready for school is grueling. Showing up ready for a regular job is exhausting. Keeping people housed in the first place is the answer to it all.

The members of the governing and advisory boards of South County Outreach are proud to be part of this important agency. Many have been associated with South County Outreach for several years, recommending colleagues and friends to also volunteer. The personal reward that we as board members receive in such important work is significant and meaningful. The more we get involved, the more we see the impact that South County Outreach is making, and the more honored we are to support the effort.