Services

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 Client Profile 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

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, at this time we are offering a Drive-Thru Food Assistance Program. Drive-Thru hours of operation are Monday-Thursday, 10am-2pm, no appointment needed.

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 Orange County. 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 currently, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, appointments are NOT required to receive assistance. Please call (949) 552-2727 if you have any questions. 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 Orange County, provide Photo ID and register to participate. 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.

How to Apply
Register by completing the online registration form, found here: Food Pantry Registration Form. OR you may call and register over the phone by calling (949) 552-2727 Monday – Thursday 9:00 am – 5:00 pm; 9:00 am – 1:00 pm on Fridays. We are closed Saturday and Sunday.

What Happens Next
Please register in advance if possible; however, you can register in person if needed. Our registration process takes about 10 minutes. At this time, you can pick-up food once per week, without appointment. Drive-Thru Food Assistance is available Monday-Thursday, 10am-2pm.

Upon your arrival for food pick-up:

• You will provide Photo ID
• We will verify you are registered. If needed, you can register upon arrival.
• Present Letter of Consent, if applicable (if you will be having someone else pick up food for you)

Please see the Food Pantry Policy for more details.

Food Pantry FAQs

1. When is the Food Pantry available?

At this time, our Drive-Thru Food Assistance Program hours are Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from 10am – 2pm. Currently, you do not need to schedule an appointment in advance.

2. What is the process for picking up food?

Currently, we are conducting Drive-Thru food pick-up only. You need to be registered and provide Photo ID upon arrival. When you arrive at 8 Thomas in Irvine, signs will direct you where to pull-up for food pick-up.

3. Am I allowed to “shop” the Food Pantry?

Due to safety reasons, clients are not permitted in the food pantry at this time and food is only available via Drive-Thru.

4. How often can I visit the Food Pantry?

At this time, you may pick up food once per week.

5. What areas do you serve?

We serve all cities in Orange County.

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

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

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 via ZOOM on July 7, 2020.

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

Click here to view the list of affordable housing units for families in Orange County. — Last updated 1/16/2020

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 posted here and will be processed on a first come, first serve and first qualified basis. 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

Current tenants: log into your resident portal here for online payments, maintenance and account information.

Prospective Tenants

How to Apply

Per the Families Forward criteria, to be considered for placement, households must adhere to Families Forward program rules and regulations. The opportunity to submit an application does not guarantee tenancy. 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.

The following criteria must be met to be considered for the housing opportunity:

1. Applicant must be literally homeless, be connected through the Family Coordinated Entry System, and be connected to a Service Provider.
2. Applicant must have at least one (1) minor age child
3. Priority for current Irvine residents
4. Households must be able to qualify per Families Forward income, screening and occupancy guidelines (50% AMI)
5. Criminal Records and previous eviction(s)/bankruptcy(s) may affect the household ability to successfully qualify.

All housing advertised herein is subject to the Federal Fair Housing Act. Which makes it illegal to advertise “any preference, limitation, or discrimination because of race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status, or national origin, or intention to make such preference, limitation or discrimination.” We will not knowingly accept or permit any advertisement for housing that is in violation of the law. All persons are hereby informed that all dwellings advertised are available on an equal opportunity basis.

Families Forward will process interest forms in the order received. This is not an application to rent, nor does completion of this form guarantee tenancy. Units are income-restricted at Low Income (50%) adjusted for household size, with a priority for current Irvine residents that are families experiencing homelessness or at risk of homelessness, as permissible by law.

To be considered, submit your interest form HERE by 1:00pm on Wednesday, August 5th 2020.