Join the WelcomeHomeOC Network. Fill Your Vacant Units while Doing Good

BY ORANGE COUNTY UNITED WAY

It’s been just over a year-and-a-half since the launch of Orange County United Way’s United to End Homelessness’ WelcomeHomeOC landlord incentive program. In partnership with the Apartment Association of Orange County (AAOC) and its compassionate members, the program is making great strides in our shared goal of finding stable, supportive and safe housing for our neighbors experiencing homelessness.

We’ve enjoyed a successful yearlong partnership and in 2021 are hoping to build on our joint successes. Many more individual, Veteran, and family voucher holders are still in need of secure housing. So, we will continue to encourage more AAOC property owners to help us bridge the housing gap for our most vulnerable population — and assist their business at the same time.

To date, 61 property owners of all portfolio sizes have joined the WelcomeHomeOC network, and 23 of them are AAOC members. In fact, 70 out of the 148 households who’ve been placed in housing are in AAOC member apartment units across 12 cities in Orange County including Garden Grove, Westminster, Anaheim, Tustin, Lake Forest, Huntington Beach, Fountain Valley, Costa Mesa, San Clemente, Orange, Mission Viejo and Brea.

The WelcomeHomeOC program places individuals and families experiencing homelessness, who have rental assistance vouchers referred through the Public Housing Authorities, into private market rental units throughout the county. The program streamlines the process for apartment owners like you and provides incentives and support, including funding for security deposits, unit holding fees, a sign on bonus and access to a damage mitigation fund.

The program has had an extremely high success rate. To date, it has helped house more than 230 individuals with ZERO evictions. Its turnover rate of 5.6% is extremely low compared to the 2018 renter turnover rate of 19.5% in Orange County. WelcomeHomeOC maintains a wait list of eligible families and individuals in need of housing, which means your vacancies will be filled quickly, and since the program’s inception, 100% of rent has been collected in full.

“We launched WelcomeHomeOC last year with the goal to end homelessness in Orange County and remove potential financial barriers for property owners to encourage them to rent to voucher holders,” said Susan B. Parks, president and CEO of Orange County United Way. “AAOC members have been essential partners. We wouldn’t be where we are today without their support and help. Their dedication and commitment have strengthened this initiative even more and we’re so grateful.”

If you’re a rental property owner, we encourage you to attend one of our workshops to learn about the WelcomeHomeOC program and the business benefits available to you. We invite you to join your fellow AAOC members as together we give hope to those who need it most, especially during these unprecedented times. Individuals like Day.

Army veteran Day returned from deployment in 2012 and was diagnosed with PTSD. Even working 60-hour weeks and two jobs, she couldn’t build enough savings for move-in cost plus rent. Day became homeless and was living in a borrowed car. Her situation seemed hopeless. But then WelcomeHomeOC program helped her find an apartment where she could use her housing voucher. She has now a place to call home and pays 30% of her income toward the rent.

With Veteran’s Day on November 11 and Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week from November 15–22, let’s continue working together to help every individual, family, and veteran experiencing homelessness in Orange County find a safe place to call home.

What affects one of us affects all of us. Stable, permanent housing is an essential human need. Most important of all, it provides safety and comfort to individuals as they strive to improve their overall quality of life.

For more information about the program, contact Kristine Peters at (949) 263-6139 or KristineP@UnitedWayOC. org. You can also register for one of the upcoming virtual WelcomeHomeOC Property Owner Workshops at www. welcomehomeoc.org

Where else but at…

VERTICAL BLINDS (We customize to your opening onsite) MINIBLINDS (Aluminum or vinyl 1”, 1.5” or 2”) Faux wood miniblinds 2” (Call for pricing) We can fix your old rail and purchase vane per piece or set

Vinyl Planks 6–12mil

For all of your apartment needs

Gas or Electric: 20” 24” & 30” Brownstove, Hotpoint, Amana, GE & Whirlpool Dishwasher: 18” or 24” Hotpoint or Frigidaire

General Wire Replacement Cables: 3/8”; ½”, 25’, 50’, 75’ or 100’, Regular head, DH or DDH

CLOSETDOORS: VINYL OR MIRRORED 24GA Steel, 1pc top channel & bottom track, 26GA frame molding, cameo white prefinished panel, steel braces are glued to each panel for added strength & rigidity & prevent warpage

VERTICAL MAILBOXES: 3, 4, 5, 6, or 7 doors Walloven: Brown or GE

Nylon or Polyester 17oz–30oz Hill Bros & Life Paint Decks (Magnesite & Concrete)

Wall Furnace

Thru-the-Wall A/C: 12k BTU (115V/220V) Frigidaire, Friedrich, Garrison

WE CARRY: 1) APPLIANCES: stoves, air conditioners, wall furnaces; dishwashers; OTR microwave; wall ovens, cooktops; water heaters, range hoods & appliance parts Range Hoods: 24”, 30”, 36”, 42”; White, bisque, black, S/S Vented or non-vented Medicine Cabinet American Standard, Bradford White, & Reliance 2) FLOORING MATERIALS: carpet, vinyl sheet, vinyl planks, 6-12mil wear layer, 12x12 & 18x18 tile 3) PLUMBING: toilets; kitchen and bathroom faucets; shower valves, repair parts for Mixet, Pfister, MOEN & Delta 4) ELECTRICAL: ceiling fans, indoor & outdoor light fixtures, repair parts 5) LOCKSETS: entry, double or single cyl deadbolts, privacy and passage locks; dummy knobs Window screen repair parts 6) REPAIR PARTS: for windows, kitchen drawers & cabinets, shower doors, screening materials, exhaust fan motors 7) VARIOUS OTHER NEEDS: garbage disposers, exhaust fan motors, vertical mailboxes, closet doors, medicine cabinets, cutting boards, deck paints, maintenance coating paints, vertical blinds sets & parts; hose bibs and lock, cleaning chemicals

Come On Down Check Us Out!

7472 Orangewood Ave., Garden Grove, CA 92841

(888) 255-6726 • Fax (714) 379-0380

www.orcoaptsupplies.com/ COOKTOPS: 24”; 30” & 36”