United to End Homelessness Encourages Community to Participate in Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week in November through Virtual Events and Outreach Opportunities

Orange County, Calif. (November 2, 2020) – United to End Homelessness will be raising awareness and drawing attention to the issue of homelessness leading up to and during Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week. A variety of virtual education events, advocacy events and community outreach opportunities are scheduled.

Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week is slated to take place from Sunday, November 15 through Sunday, November 22.

“Many people in our community are experiencing homelessness or are on the verge of becoming homeless. This has been a trying time for all but especially for our neighbors without a home,” said Becks Heyhoe, Executive Director of United to End Homelessness. “It is our collective responsibility to make sure everyone in Orange County has safe, stable housing and our hope is that we can rally the community during Hunger and Homelessness Awareness week to raise much-needed awareness for this critical issue.”

The following free virtual events and initiatives are open to participation from the public:

Hunger and Homelessness Awareness “Essential” Social Media Campaign

This year’s social media campaign will seek to raise awareness about how essential a home is in solving homelessness as well as highlighting the different resources that are currently available. On your own social media platforms, educate your friends, families, and coworkers about the several essential elements required to end and address homelessness, including but not limited to service providers also known as our ‘Unsung Heroes’, a home and health.

Learn how to correctly utilize the social media kit by attending a social media kit workshop on November 5, 2020 from 12:00 p.m. to 12:30 p.m. OR 6:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. – RSVP

To sign up to receive the social media kit, please click here.

Community Chats

Attend virtual interviews and discussions with industry experts about various topics related to the current COVID-19 pandemic and homelessness.

• Thursday, November 11, 2020 – Veterans Day Series
  • 9:30 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. – “An Overview of Veteran Homelessness” – RSVP
  • 12:00 p.m. to 12:30 p.m. – “Property Owners Ending Homelessness” – RSVP
  • 4:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. – “Service Providers Supporting Those Who Served” – RSVP

• Thursday, November 19, 2020 from 12:00 p.m. to 12:30 p.m., “Stability is Essential” – RSVP
  • Confirmed speakers include:
    • David Gillanders, Executive Director of Pathways of Hope
    • Karyn Hay, Housing Stabilization Coordinator for Friendship Shelter
    • Shay Sorrells, the Chief Program Officer for Orangewood Foundation

• Friday, November 20, 2020 from 12:00 p.m. to 12:30 p.m., “Prevention is Essential” – RSVP
  • Confirmed speakers include:
    • David Cordero, Executive Director of the Apartments Association of Orange County
    • Victor Cao, Vice President of Public Affairs for California Apartment Association
    • Elizabeth Andrade, Chief Executive Officer of Family Assistance Ministries

Homelessness 101 Class

Gain a better understanding of the homeless system in Orange County, including the most up-to-date statistics and best practices for solving homelessness in our community.

• Thursday, November 12, 2020 from 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. – RSVP

Housing Champion Advocacy 101 Class

Learn how to be an effective voice for more supportive and affordable housing in your community, how to move housing projects towards approval and how to deliver strong public comments at key city council and commission board hearings.

• Wednesday, November 18, 2020 from 6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. – RSVP

For more information about United to End Homelessness, visit https://www.unitedtoendhomelessness.org/.

ABOUT UNITED TO END HOMELESSNESS

Launched in February 2018, United to End Homelessness is led by a diverse group of leaders from Orange County’s top business, philanthropic, governmental, faith-based and nonprofit organizations – all committed to ending homelessness in our community. Our work is grounded in bringing the recommendations of the 2017 UC Irvine study “Homelessness in Orange County: The Costs to Our Community” to life, with Orange County United Way serving as the backbone of this new collaborative effort. Together we are working to bring the issue of homelessness to the forefront of the community’s collective discussion and create civic engagement that will lead to meaningful and lasting results. Together we can and we will #EndHomelessnessOC. For more information, please visit www.unitedtoendhomelessness.org.

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Media Contact: Annie Noebel, [email protected] or (949) 449-2527