Families Forward
Our Story
Starting with 5 rented apartments in 1984, Families Forward has expanded to work with hundreds of families to regain economic independence and find a stable home for their children. Our vision is to end homelessness for local families.
Our Mission
Families Forward exists to help families in need achieve and maintain self-sufficiency through housing, food, counseling, education, and other support services.
Our Values
Families Forward holds strong to our commitment to the values of dignity, empowerment, accountability, community spirit, and hope.
- Dignity – Honor each individual through an atmosphere of respect, trust, and confidentiality.
- Empowerment – Inspire self-sufficiency through the development of courage, confidence, and pride.
- Accountability – Accept responsibility for commitments and accomplishing our goals.
- Community Spirit – Realize our vision through teamwork, cooperation, and collaboration.
- Hope – Share a belief in new beginnings and allowing dreams of the future to emerge.
The Hidden Orange County
One of the fastest growing segments of the homeless population is working families with children struggling to make ends meet. The high cost of basic living, including rent, transportation and childcare, coupled with the significant lack of affordable housing, puts many families at risk. More than 30,000 school-age children are homeless or housing-insecure. These are the families we see every day.
How We Help
Housing Program: Placing homeless children and families into stable housing. Families Forward works with homeless families to find realistic solutions for sustainable housing and build individualized plans to return each family to self-sufficiency. By stabilizing these families and giving them tools to build a future, we create a stronger community for all of us. A key factor for success is Families Forward’s commitment to collaborate with many organizations to end family homelessness in Orange County, including Orange County United Way, the Commission to End Homelessness, the Children and Families Commission and many other partner agencies and foundations. Only together will we be able to end homelessness in Orange County. Visit the Housing Program page for more information.
Community Services: Providing supportive services to improve lives. Families Forward also reaches out to low-income families to help reduce the pressures that can cause homelessness and help them maintain their stability. Through various safety-net services, those at-risk are given access to assistance such as our on-site food pantry, counseling, career coaching, and financial and life skills education. The goal of the program is to help families recover from a financial crisis so they can maintain their self-sufficiency. Visit the services page for more information.
How You Can Help
It’s fun and easy to get involved with Families Forward. Consider one of our many volunteer opportunities listed in our Volunteer section. Or visit our Donate section to see how your support can help families build a path to self-sufficiency.