I was able to create lasting change
for my family.”
Programs & Services
Programs & Services
At one time or another, any family may find itself in need of some form of support. Call (949) 552-2727 or read information on this website to find out more. Families Forward helps homeless and low income families find and maintain stable housing and achieve self-sufficiency.
Families Forward is here to help.
Emergencies can happen to anyone: a death in the family, a loss of a job, an illness, or a divorce can be devastating, both emotionally and financially. Our goal is to prevent the fear and hopelessness that can occur as a result of a crisis, and ensure that the children’s welfare and stability are protected as much as possible. Click here to learn more, or haga clic aquí para aprender más.
Housing Program
Housing Program
Housing for Families
Families Forward’s Housing Program is designed to help families who have recently faced a crisis that left them homeless. Families Forward helps these families get back on their feet by providing housing, counseling, career coaching, life-skills training, and referral services. Families enrolled in the program may receive rental subsidies to give them time to regain their self-sufficiency. Length of stay in the Housing Program varies from family to family.
Through partnerships with local apartment communities and access to Families Forward’s housing resources, families who have lost their housing are able to access rental housing.
Who Qualifies
Candidates for the Housing Program must have a minor-aged child and be homeless. This is an intensive program designed to help motivated families achieve and maintain financial self-sufficiency.
How to Apply
There is a high demand for entry into our Housing Program and we cannot guarantee placement. If you are interested in applying to the Housing Program, please call our office at (949) 552-2727 during business hours or complete a Triage form.
What Happens Next
Because we cannot guarantee placement in a home at any particular time, we do not keep a waiting list. Whenever there is an opening in the Housing Program, our case managers review the family information forms that have been submitted. Please keep your contact information current to help us reach you more easily if a new opportunity opens.
If you are in an emergency situation or other crisis, call us and we will do our best to assist you in locating other options or check the Community Resources page for additional resources.
Housing Program FAQ’s
1. How do I apply for the Families Forward Housing Program?
Complete a Family Information Form by calling us at (949) 552-2727 during business hours, and we will contact you if you meet the qualifications and if there is housing available.
2. How do I know if I qualify for the Families Forward Housing Program?
You must have a minor-aged child under 18 years of age and be homeless. Families Forward Homeless Intervention is an intense program specifically designed to assist a family in achieving and maintaining financial self-sufficiency. Our clients must have the desire and perseverance to work with our case managers to become self-sufficient.
3. Do you offer immediate or emergency housing?
We do not have emergency shelter. For emergency shelters in your area, please contact 2-1-1 Orange County, a general resource center that serves all of Orange County. If you are looking for affordable housing, try searching www.ochousing.org.
4. Do you offer rental or utility assistance?
Families Forward does not have grant funding for rental or utility assistance. 2-1-1 Orange County can provide a list of current agencies that may have funding for these types of assistance.
5. What is Families Forward’s privacy policy?
Families Forward follows the County of Orange guidelines on management of personal information. Click to read our Privacy Notice in English or Aviso de Privacidad en Espanol.
Food Pantry
Food Pantry
Do you need food?
Food assistance, in the form of nonperishable items such as canned goods, rice and pasta, is available to income qualifying single individuals, couples, and families residing in South Orange County (from Tustin to San Clemente). When available, fresh produce, bread and eggs are offered. Essential infant supplies such as baby food and diapers may also be provided when available.
Please note that appointments are required to receive assistance. Please call ahead (949) 552-2727 to register for this program and schedule an appointment during business hours. Food must be picked up at the Families Forward Program Center located at 8 Thomas in Irvine. Driving Directions
Who Qualifies
To qualify, you must live in South Orange County or be homeless. We are part of a network of food providers and do our best to stay current with all the food resources in Orange County. To meet your needs, we may refer you to another provider that is closer to your residence. Please see the Food Pantry Policy in English and Spanish for more details.
If you need food immediately and it is an emergency, call us at (949) 552-2727 regardless of residence or income.
We can supply emergency food as well as register you for the food program if you qualify.
How to Apply
Call us at (949) 552-2727 from 9:00 am – 5:00 pm Monday through Thursday; 9:00 am – 1:00 pm on Fridays. We are closed Saturday and Sunday.
What Happens Next
Our registration process takes about 15-20 minutes. At your first appointment, we will collect the following information:
- Photo ID
- Complete a registration form
- Letter of Consent, if applicable (if you will be having someone else pick up the food for you)
Please see the Food Pantry Policy for more details.
Food Pantry FAQ’s
1. When is the Food Pantry available?
Our normal Food Pantry hours are Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays from 9:20 am – 4:30 pm. To provide the best service to our clients, we use an appointment system. Please call (949) 552-2727 to make an appointment.
2. What is the process for picking up food?
For your first scheduled food appointment, arrive at Families Forward at 8 Thomas in Irvine with your driver’s license or identification card, a utility bill or other proof of residency, and a proof of income. If you are a new client, we will collect information about you and your family to create your file and assist you in addressing other needs. You will be required to bring your photo ID to each appointment.
3. Am I allowed to “shop” the Food Pantry?
Due to safety and liability reasons, clients are not permitted in the shelving area. However, we provide an optional program called Client Choice in which clients are able to select their preferred food items from an order form rather than receive a prepackaged food basket. Download more information in English and in Spanish Appointments are required.
4. How often can I visit the Food Pantry?
The Food Pantry may be accessed up to 12 times a year. You may pick up food one time per month, waiting at least 30 days between each food visit.
5. What areas do you serve?
We serve cities in South Orange County – Click here for a full-screen interactive map
Families Forward Map
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 |  Aliso Viejo, CA, United States |
| Corona Del Mar, Newport Beach, CA, United States |
| Dove Canyon, Rancho Santa Margarita, CA, United States |
| Coto de Caza, CA, United States |
| Dana Point, CA, United States |
| Lake Forest, CA, United States |
| Foothill Ranch, Lake Forest, CA, United States |
| Irvine, CA, United States |
| Laguna Beach, CA, United States |
| Laguna Hills, CA, United States |
| Laguna Niguel, CA, United States |
| Laguna Woods, CA, United States |
| Lake Forest, CA, United States |
| Mission Viejo, CA, United States |
| Newport Beach, CA, United States |
| Rancho Santa Margarita, CA, United States |
| San Clemente, CA, United States |
| San Juan Capistrano, CA, United States |
| Silverado Canyon, Orange County, CA, United States |
| South Laguna, Laguna Beach, CA, United States |
| Trabuco Canyon, CA, United States |
| Tustin, CA, United States |
Community Counseling
Community Counseling
Families Forward’s Community Counseling Program features solution-based counseling focused on identifying what the participant wants to accomplish. Counseling is short-term, individual, marital, family, and group counseling for personal and interpersonal concerns.
Who is eligible?
Community Counseling services are available to income eligible families with minor age children residing in Orange County. Fees are based on a sliding scale. No one will be turned away due to inability to pay.
When are appointments available?
Hours of operation are available by appointment on Monday-Thursday 9:00 am – 5:00 pm as well as Monday and Thursday evenings as needed.
How do I get started?
If you are interested in counseling, please call our Counseling Office at 949-379-8132 or email at counseling@families-forward.org. Click here for more information in English and En Español.
If you are looking for more comprehensive health counseling, please contact 2-1-1 or Orange County Health Care Agency at (714) 834-4722.
Career Services
Career Services
Families Forward provides career coaching to our housing clients, assisting them with job searches, preparing for interviews and ultimately improving their earning potential. Additional career resources can be found at the agencies listed below.
Access California (Focus on Arab-American & Muslim-American communities)
(800) 287-1332 or (714) 917-4400
www.accesscal.org/services
Anaheim Employment Development Department
(714) 518-2315
Chrysalis Orange County
(714) 204-3000
www.changeslives.org
OMID Multicultural Institute (Focus on the Farsi speaking families, specifically, Persians and Afghans)
(949) 502-4721
www.omidinstitute.org
OneStop Irvine
(949) 341-8000
www.oconestop.com/calendar
OneStop Garden Grove
(714) 241-4900
www.oconestop.com/calendar
OneStop Buena Park
(714) 562-9200
www.oconestop.com/calendar
Santa Ana Work Center
(714) 565-2600
www.santa-ana.org/workcenter/jobs
South County Outreach
(949) 380-8144
www.sco-oc.org/programs
Veterans:
VetNet, Irvine (714) 210-2460
OneStop, Irvine & Garden Grove Locations
Workforce Edge, Anaheim (714) 296-9597
Working Wardrobes
(714) 210-2460
www.workingwardrobes.org/career-success-institute
Women Helping Women/Men to Work
(949) 631-2333
www.whw.org/job-seekers
Y.E.S. (Youth Employment Services) (Ages 16-24 only)
(949) 642-0474
www.yesworks.org
Tenant Education Workshops
Tenant Education Workshops
Learn to be a smarter renter!
To help any renter, novice or experienced, become a THRIVING renter, Families Forward provides free tenant education workshops. Workshops are held quarterly and are open to the general public.
Learn more about
- affordable housing,
- the rental application process,
- how to overcome your biggest barriers,
- renter’s responsibilities during tenancy,
- what to expect at the end of your lease, and
- tips to ensure maximum security deposit refund!
All workshops are held at our Program Center at 8 Thomas in Irvine. Driving Directions
Registration is required and space is limited. Please call 949-552-2727 to register or complete a Tenant Education Workshop Registration Form. Please note that childcare will not be provided during these workshops.
Click here for information on the next Tenant Education workshop offering.
All participants will receive a certificate of completion, comprehensive Tenant Education Guide to take home with advice, guidelines and worksheets as a practical tool to use in the apartment search and rental process.
Affordable Housing
Affordable Housing
Click here to view the list of affordable housing units for families in Orange County. — Last updated 5/31/2018
Families Forward manages the application process and access to select a number of Affordable Housing units. Families Forward will announce availability of any new units on our website. There will be no Families Forward waitlist. In the future, once a unit becomes vacant, the opportunity to apply will be on a first come first serve basis for currently enrolled households in the Families Forward Housing Program. These households must be in current good standing. To qualify, applicants must complete all required forms and provide specific documentation that they meet income qualifications for the designated rental units.
Please note: The opportunity to submit an application packet through Families Forward does not guarantee tenancy.
Contact us for more information.
Current Tenants
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- Current tenants: log into your resident portal here for maintenance and account information.
Community Resources
Community Resources
Request Services
Request Services
To connect with a Family Access Point in your area please complete the Family Solutions Collaborative Client form.
