Friendship Shelter   

Founded in 1988 by a group of concerned citizens in Laguna Beach, from the very beginning Friendship Shelter focused on the most vulnerable among southern Orange County’s homeless population. Throughout the ensuing years, our mission continued as our organization evolved into a model for ending homelessness through housing solutions and an advocate for the homeless population. Friendship Shelter's programs are each focused on ending homelessness through housing, particularly for the most vulnerable, high-need populations. We provide uniquely comprehensive, individualized assistance based on each client’s circumstance, needs, and capacity in our three core programs: emergency shelter, bridge housing, and permanent supportive housing. The goal always is to help individuals find and sustain appropriate permanent housing (including rooms and apartments for rent, family reunification, and housing with wraparound supportive services). As the largest shelter and supportive housing operator in southern Orange County – serving more than 220 individuals each night – we challenge ourselves to keep entry thresholds low and focus services on finding the best housing solution for each guest. We continually work to ensure that all programs employ evidence-based best practices and our housing solutions are increasingly developed in collaboration with diverse corporate, government, and non-profit partners.