Local homeless shelters
If you are homeless and seeking immediate shelter, food, clothing or other types of assistance, please visit www.211oc.org or dial 2-1-1 to reach the 24-hour free information and referral helpline.
Santa Ana Navigation Center
The Navigation Center is a 24-hour homeless (shelter) navigation center in Santa Ana that serves homeless men, women, and families with minor-aged children. The building houses five dormitories, family rooms, full bathroom facilities and more. This shelter allows those with ties to Santa Ana who may be experiencing homelessness to focus on transitioning into permanent housing and employment opportunities.
Volunteer opportunities
Individuals are invited to provide a helping hand, enrichment activities, supporting shelter staff, or helping with events. Hours are flexible, 7 days a week. If you are interested in volunteering, please visit ifhomeless.org/volunteer.
Orange County's Yale Navigation Center
The Yale Navigation Center is a county-owned and operated shelter, with a capacity of 425 people, provides shelter, meals, sanitary facilities, and access to case management, employment and housing assistance, health care, mental health services, substance abuse treatment, and other supportive services and assistance to individuals experiencing homelessness.
**Please note the typo on page two. Corrected phone number should be 714-785-9926
Central Cities Navigation Center (Fountain Valley, Garden Grove, Westminster)
The City of Fountain Valley is currently working to develop a year-round navigation center in partnership with the Cities of Garden Grove and Westminster. The navigation center will provide emergency housing and wrap-around services to individuals experiencing homelessness. The Cities are currently in escrow to purchase the property located at 13871 West Street in the City of Garden Grove for the development of the Central Cities Navigation Center. The proposed layout includes 85 beds for men, women, and couples, a full kitchen, laundry room, and more.
Costa Mesa Bridge Shelter
Acting as a triage between homelessness and housing, the 70-bed Bridge Shelter provides interim housing coupled with wrap-around services to support guests on their journey to securing a permanent housing option. The City of Costa Mesa partners with the local non-profit, Mercy House, to operate the Bridge Shelter and coordinate the provision of guest services.
Huntington Beach Navigation Center
Provides a transitional, temporary homeless facility for men, women, and couples without children. Healthcare, dental, and behavioral services will be available to people staying at the Center. Referrals to community-based services will be provided as needed. The long-term goal of the Center is to provide clients with the resources they need to permanently transition off the streets. The Huntington Beach Homeless Task Force provides in-person eligibility screening.
Tustin Temporary Emergency Shelter
The Tustin Temporary Emergency Shelter is a 50 bed shelter, constructed using modular buildings, which services only people with solid ties to Tustin and a referral from the Tustin Police Department. The temporary shelter opened March 18, 2019.
Anaheim Emergency Shelter
The Anaheim Emergency Shelter is home to 325 beds serving men, women, couples, and pets, while providing supportive services to individuals staying at the shelter.
Orange County's Bridges at Kraemer Place
Bridges at Kraemer Place opened in 2017 as the County’s first emergency Shelter, located in the City of Anaheim. Bridges is operated by Mercy House Living Centers (Mercy House) through a contract with the County of Orange. Bridges provides shelter and supportive services for up to 200 adult individuals experiencing homelessness in the North Service Planning Area (SPA).
Buena Park Navigation Center
The Buena Park Navigation Center is a temporary homeless shelter facility which opened in July 2020. The City has owned the site for over 40 years; the 2.14-acre site had a municipal water well towards the back and storage and a fire training tower towards the front. An approximate 15,000 square-foot portion towards the front of the site is now transformed into the shelter, offering 150 beds in addition to office, class, medical, outdoor and meeting spaces.
Fullerton Navigation Center
The Fullerton Navigation Center provides 90 beds for adults experiencing homelessness, with an additional 60 beds for adults in need of recuperative care. The Fullerton Navigation Center was opened in April 2021 and services individuals experiencing homelessness in the Northern Service Planning Area.
Placentia Navigation Center
The Placentia Navigation Center provides interim housing with housing and employment focused case management, on-site physical and behavioral health services, referrals to community-based services, group activities, and nutritious meals to individuals experiencing homelessness, in the North Service Planning Area. Referrals must be from one of the Police Departments in the North Service Planning Area or from City Net.
Laguna Beach Alternative Sleeping Location Emergency Shelter
Since November of 2009, the City of Laguna Beach has owned, funded, and contracted for the operation of a low barrier, 45-bed emergency shelter within the City commonly known as the Alternative Sleeping Location (ASL). This program utilizes a streamlined enrollment process that gives priority to Laguna Beach locals and those homeless who are the most vulnerable. Those who qualify for enrollment may be granted a bed at the ASL for a period of up to 30 days; however, individuals demonstrating a commitment to ending their homelessness, but require more time, may be enrolled for additional 30 terms.
Orange County Cold Weather Emergency Shelter
The Orange County cold weather shelter is a seasonal program that is normally operated during cold weather months. The program provides overnight shelter to individuals that are vulnerable and exposed to the outside weather elements and provides essential services that include nutritious meals, warm showers, a safe place to sleep, clothes, supportive services, and a friendly atmosphere.
The cold weather shelter is now closed.