South County Outreach

Homeless Prevention

Every now and then, hardworking people experience financial hardship. Orange County residents sometimes need that little extra help to pay bills to avoid losing their home or essential utility services, like water, and electricity. The Homeless Prevention program helps seniors, single parents, the unemployed or underemployed, and families with children remain in their current home by eliminating the threat of eviction and preventing the devastating social, economic, and psychological ramifications of experiencing homelessness. Many residents need short-term financial assistance. The process for funding includes a preliminary eligibility questionnaire, full application, and case management. Our team works with clients to identify needs and work through steps to re-gaining self-sufficiency and improve household sustainability.

The Market: A Client-Choice Food Program

SCO operates an expansive food pantry that offers fresh produce, lean meats, dairy, breads, shelf-stable foods, and other health & wellness items for residents in need of a little extra help each month. Clients who utilize the food program are asked to provide identification for each member in the household, proof of residency, and to verify their household income annually. This allows South County Outreach to provide actual figures to grantors and funders. Members of the south Orange County community from all walks of life, every age, and every ethnicity, make up the 2,000 individuals we serve each month. South County Outreach collects more than a million pounds of food every year from grocery stores, manufacturers, schools, businesses, religious congregations, individuals, and other agencies. Food drives are an important source of non-perishable food, but often the shelves are still bare. A cash donation allows us to fill in when food drive supplies are low and perishable items are scarce. To increase the dignity that is often diminished in charitable food programs, South County Outreach purchases high-demand items that aren't often donated to ensure each and every household who visits receives high-quality foods to meet their nutritional needs, items like produce, condiments, eggs, and milk. By purchasing these food items that are often missing from food donations acquired from our food bank partners, we can help households ensure that they are getting adequate nutrition essential for overall health and well-being.

Housing Program

The Housing Program at South County Outreach offers affordable housing for low-income or homeless families experiencing financial instability and sets them up for long-term self-sufficiency. Through Affordable Housing options, low-income families can obtain a home appropriate for their family at a fraction of the higher market rental prices commonly seen in south OC. South County Outreach owns 15 condominiums located throughout our communities. The geographic locations of the condominiums allows families to stay in the same school districts, remain close to family/friends support systems, and have a safe place to live while regaining independence. A key component to the program is the Case Management whereby our highly trained staff works with the Housing Program families on issues such as financial management, credit repair, life skills, education, employment enhancement and financial assistance through personalized attention.

Fresh Start: Education Program

South County Outreach is not only passionate about destigmatizing free food programs and organizations, but we are committed to providing our clients with the education and tools they need to set their families up for academic and societal success. In partnership with Farmers & Merchants Bank, a 4-part financial education series has been developed to support clients on their path to financial success and self-sufficiency.