Queen's Story
Meet Ms. Queen Boston, a Santa Ana local who, after some tough knocks, found herself without a home and struggling to f
ind a foothold. She spent some time battling homelessness until she was referred to the Santa Ana Navigation Center, where she's been a guest for a year. At our Navigation Center, Queen was met with a warm welcome from her Housing Navigator, who helped her secure a spot in a Senior Micro-Community, with assistance from our Housing Authority.
Fast forward to October 19, 2023, and Ms. Boston has found a place to call home. Her favorite thing about it? The joy of having her own space and place to call her own. Now, she has peace of mind to focus on her future plans.
When asked about her experience and what she would say to others who are still struggling, her response was simple: The Navigation Center and affordable housing programs are a true blessing. They give seniors like her the resources they need to get back on their feet and stay independent. They also provide a safe and welcoming environment, without any outside judgement. Her advice to others in a similar situation is to have patience, ask for help, and hold out for the good things that are bound to come their way.
David's Story
Homeless Liaison Officers and outreach workers are in the business of advocating for those that cannot advocate for themselves. Sometimes individuals are forgotten and slip through the cracks. We are grateful for our partnerships and for dedicated staff who don't give up. The individual depicted in this picture (photo and story are shared with his permission) is one of those individuals.
Everyone is different. Some unhoused individuals need to be case-managed from a shelter and others need to be case-managed from the streets. David was one of those individuals who needed to be case-managed from the streets. The Santa Ana Quality of Life Team (QOLT) spent years taking David to the shelter, in fact, over two dozen times. Sometimes David would last days, other times, he would last just hours, but one thing is for certain, no one ever gave up on him.
As Outreach workers case managed David in preparation for housing, QOLT not only kept him safe while he was on the streets, but spent time counseling him and ensuring he had clothing and food. Despite David's transient nature, Orange County Outreach and QOLT never gave up.
All this hard work has paid off. After 30 years of homelessness, David has received keys to his new home at The Orchard in Santa Ana.