How We Can Fill Them Together

Public funding for youth services swings wildly from year to year. And when budgets tighten? Young people in Orange County pay the price. The 2024 Point-in-Time count tells the story: 7,322 people experiencing homelessness—3,149 sheltered and 4,173 unsheltered. That’s a 37% jump in unsheltered homelessness since 2022 (County of Orange, 5/8/2024: https://www.ocgov.com/press/county-orange-releases-2024-point-time-count-results).

The crisis reaches into our classrooms and college campuses. Over 30,000 students in K-12 schools and area colleges are either experiencing homelessness or living on the edge of it. These aren’t just statistics—they’re kids sitting in math class worrying about where they’ll sleep tonight, college students choosing between textbooks and dinner, teenagers trying to focus on homework while couch-surfing between friends’ homes.

Our Orange County Continuum of Care manages about $32.8 million in annual renewal grants—critical money that still doesn’t cover everything. There are timing gaps. There are cost gaps. Local providers feel it every day (OC CoC FY2024-25 NOFO Overview, 8/2024: https://ceo.oc.gov/sites/ceo/files/2024-08/FY2024-25%20CoC%20NOFO%20Overview%20-%20Final.pdf).

We serve hundreds of youth each year. When one part of the safety net weakens, our young people wait longer for housing, mental health care, and pathways to employment. But here’s the thing: together, we can close these gaps.

What These Shifts Mean—And How We Respond

Funding is unstable. Even in years with strong federal awards, state and local gaps persist. We’ve learned to adapt quickly—keeping youth connected to housing, food, and caring adults no matter what the budget looks like.

Demand keeps rising. Outreach requests, basic needs assistance, housing support—they all continue to climb. We meet youth where they are and stay with them for the long run.

Community action works. Every gift, every hour volunteered, every shared message moves a young person closer to stability. Want to see immediate results? Act with us.

Give—Direct Support Powers Essential Services

Your gift fills urgent gaps federal and state funds can’t cover. When you support StandUp for Kids Orange County, you fund street outreach, housing support, meals, and career mentoring.

Your monthly gift can provide:

• 15 hot meals for youth on the streets
• 10 hygiene kits for youth meeting with our outreach team
• One month of job-readiness materials for workshops and mentoring

Donate today—help us keep services consistent when budgets aren’t.

Volunteer—A Few Hours Changes Trajectories

We need mentors, career coaches, and outreach support. Here’s how you can help:

• Join street outreach—connect youth to food, safety, and resources
• Mentor in our workshops—resume building, interview prep, and life skills
• Share your expertise—IT, HR, marketing, finance, and more

Sign up to volunteer—bring your time and skills to a young person who’s ready to grow.

Partner—Build Corporate Support That Lasts

Local businesses help us weather funding swings. Partnership opportunities include:

• Monthly corporate giving to stabilize core programs
• Employee volunteer days that build teams and community
• In-kind support—food, clothing, tech, and professional services

Start a partnership—create steady support for OC youth.

Success—Community Support in Action

Marcus, 19, shows what’s possible.

After aging out of foster care, he slept in his car while working part-time. Through our community-funded housing support, he secured stable housing and enrolled in community college. Today? He’s studying computer science—and mentoring other youth.

Accountability—Your Support, Our Impact

We publish quarterly impact updates so you can see:

• How many youth we serve with community funding
• Which services you power—outreach, housing, food, education, employment
• Outcomes achieved—housing placements, school persistence, and jobs

Read our updates—know exactly how your support changes lives.

Join Us—Close the Gap for OC Youth

We can’t control budget cycles—but together, we can control the response.

Give. Volunteer. Advocate. Partner with us to keep every door open for youth.

Visit StandUp for Kids Orange County.

Take one action today—help a young person move from crisis to stability.