Contents
- Requirements/Specifications
- Goals
- 20230630-F: Updated: 20261109-M:
- More resource guides coming soon!
- Promotion - PAD Link – OC Navigator Should have a PAD Link
- Successfully using OC Navigator
- I’m not satisfied with OC Navigator
- Housing Remains an Issue for The Disadvantaged Including The Homeless (2026)
- OC Navigator: Presented by: Armen Arevian, MD PhD
- Resource Curation in Depth
- From April 7 - October 7 2022 (As presented in 2023)
- Partners – Mental Health Association
- Cast of Characters
- Recovery Sleep First Model
- Prospective Users of the Comprehensive Housing Resource Guide (CHRG)
- List of Beds (MHA, 2023, 3 Pages)
- Collaborations - CHRG
- We suggest a resource guide with the following qualities.
- Samples of OC Navigator Materials
- Site Visits
- Who keeps OC Navigator up to date?
- OC Health Care Agency’s New OC Navigator Platform Makes Finding Local Resources Easy
- FYI - OCHCA Patient Portal
- Browse Categories
- Housing Resources 2026 (Around 60 Entries)
- In their day circa 2006-2010 the following materials were sufficient
- Open Resources
- Sample Resource Guide – TheNavigator
- Table - From - Three Unique Lists (Multiple Duplicate Entries)
- We Failed to Sell our Housing Solutions Bundle Project Idea
- Developing the Full Bed Record (FBR)
- FYI - 20230726-W: Last Update: 20261108-SU: HSB Operations
- United Way - 211 OC
- Is the 211 route to a bed working and effective? (2026)
- MHAOC Housing Guide
- Home and Needs - Take care of your health!
- OC Affrd_Hsing List Updated Revised 12.11.2020
- What is low income in Orange County CA? (2026)
- HOUSING Guide [Template] - OCHCA
- Surfing OC Navigator – Resource Guides
- Suggest a Resource or Guide
- Comprehensive Housing Resource Guide (CHRG)
- Core - Dayle McIntosh Center (4 Page) – List [2025, PDF]
- Tangent - Summary – Links, redirects and chains
Goals
>As you are fully aware it is very hard to place a consumer in a bed
that is good for them. Through our
efforts we hope to maximize Great Placements in Great Beds. We need to place the
homeless in a Great Bed ASAP. This
effort will save money on catastrophically expensive alternatives such as the
Hospital and Jail. A Housing Solutions
Bundle with be the axial one-stop service to solve problems placing
those in need in an affordable Great Bed.
20230630-F: Updated: 20261109-M:
We were reviewing your, the
OCNavigator website at: https://ocnavigator.org/m/ocn/54 and found that you we inviting us to suggest a resource guide.
We suggest a Comprehensive Housing
Resource Guide (CHRG). We have
filled out and submitted your online form at least two times. We have yet to hear back from you. This paper outlines our efforts to contribute
to a consumer-driven CHRG.
Associated Document > In House > Metadata >
02_OC_Navigator_Resource_Guide_Suggestion_HRG_23092501_Submit
January 7 2026 (W)
More resource guides
coming soon!
If you would like to suggest a resource guide, please let us
know.
Suggestion 1 - Date the Existing Resource Guides on the home
page https://ocnavigator.org/m/ocn/54
Suggestion 2 - We are suggesting a well-researched,
thorough, up-to-date, dynamic Comprehensive Housing Resource Guide (CHRG)
Suggestion 3 - Add link to the OCHCA Psychiatric Advance Directive site
Online Response
“Thanks for reaching out!”
“Your input and partnership helps us improve the OC
Navigator for our community.”
https://www.padsca.org/counties/orange
Psychiatric Advance Directives (PADs) Implementation
County Population Total: Approximately 3.2 million
Priority Populations:
Orange County will pilot the PADs
project in several areas within the Health Care Agency: Intensive Care
Management (ICM) programs, formerly
known as Program for Assertive Community Treatment (PACT), Comprehensive
Forensic ACT (FACT) Full-Service Partnership (FSP) program, formerly known as Assisted
Outpatient Treatment (AOT) and Community Assistance, Recovery, and Empowerment
(CARE), and Wellness Centers. Additional programs will be added in later phases
of the project.
Successfully using OC Navigator
Successfully using OC Navigator
(ocnavigator.org) means leveraging its online database and live navigators to find free local Orange County resources
for mental/physical health, housing, food, substance use, and more, by
searching online or calling/chatting
24/7 in multiple languages for personalized help and crisis support.
Success comes from using its filters, multilingual support, and connecting with
trained professionals for referrals, especially for urgent needs like suicide
prevention or serious mental health conditions, ensuring you get connected to
the right service efficiently.
I’m not satisfied with OC Navigator
Reasons for dissatisfaction with an "OC Navigator" (likely Orange County Health Care Agency's OC Links or a similar service) often involve system-level issues like overwhelmed resources, difficulty getting timely connections to specialized care (especially for complex behavioral health needs), communication gaps, or perceived lack of personalized support, even though navigators aim to overcome barriers like transportation or lack of info. While navigators help with access, users may feel frustrated by slow processes or not finding the exact fit for their needs, or the system itself (like involuntary AOT criteria) doesn't match their situation.
Housing Remains an Issue for The Disadvantaged Including The Homeless
(2026)
Housing instability and homelessness remain critical
challenges across the United States, driven by a shortage of affordable units, high rent burdens, and ongoing
policy shifts.
Key Housing and Homelessness
Statistics
Affordable Housing
Shortage:
The U.S. faces
a gap of roughly 6.8 to 7.1 million affordable rental homes for extremely low-income households.
Rent Burdens:
Over 3 million
households pay more than 30% of their income on rent, and more than 1.5 million
pay over 50%.
National Homelessness
Counts:
According to
the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), nationwide
homelessness decreased by 6.3% in 2026, with 698,425 people experiencing
homelessness on a single night in January. This follows a reported drop in
2025, though advocates and analysts debate the primary underlying causes and long-term trajectory.
Disproportionate Impacts:
Marginalized
groups—including Black, brown, and LGBTQ+ individuals, foster youth, and people
with disabilities—are disproportionately represented among the unhoused
population.
Policy Debates and Approaches
Housing First Model:
Proponents and
organizations like the National Alliance to End Homelessness
emphasize providing permanent, low-barrier housing paired with voluntary
services, pointing to long-term success in programs like HUD-VASH for veterans.
Treatment First Model:
Federal policy
shifts under the administration have moved toward a "Treatment First"
framework, placing a stronger emphasis on addressing substance use disorders,
mental health treatment, and public safety enforcement.
OC Navigator: Presented by: Armen Arevian, MD PhD
Behavioral Health System
Transformation Part II:
On behalf of the OC Navigator
team
January 25, 2023
Discussed: The presenter
discussed OC Navigator’s partnership efforts to curate resources and guides. Planned
enhancements and community engagement collaborations to improve the OC
Navigator. He discussed resource curation with 827 resource total and 5,769
total views. OC Navigator had published 14 resource guides in total
with 2,407 total views. He called this
presentation a 6 Month Review and shared the following mechanism.
Stressors/Symptoms >
Presenting
Housing Problem(s) >
OC
Navigator >
Self-Navigation V Guided Support
Resource Curation in Depth
Resource curation is the process
of selecting, organizing, vetting,
and presenting valuable information or materials so people can easily find and use what they need.
Key Steps in the Curation
Process
Define Goals:
Establish
clear learning, research, or operational objectives before gathering materials.
Identify Sources:
Select
reputable, accurate, and up-to-date publishers, databases, or public health
networks like the Public Health Equity Resource Navigator (PHERN).
Filter and Vetting:
Assess content for quality,
accessibility, alignment with audience needs, and copyright or Creative Commons
compliance.
Organize and Categorize:
Group items
logically using tags, themes, or proficiency levels.
Add Context:
Provide brief summaries explaining why the resource matters and how to use it.
Common Types of Curation
Learning and Education:
Teachers and
instructional designers gather digital modules, videos, and articles to support
differentiated instruction as
outlined by Edutopia.
Data Curation:
Archivists and
scientists clean, annotate, and manage datasets
to ensure long-term findability and reusability (FAIR principles).
Digital Curation Tools:
Popular platforms used to collect and share resources include Pinterest, Symbaloo, Diigo, and elink.
Top 2 Viewed Guides
1. Child, Adolescent, and Young Adult Mental Health and
Substance Use Resources -316
2. OC Resources for People Experiencing Homelessness/at Risk
of Homelessness -213
Top Feedback
- More resource listings for specific topics or groups, such as…
- Housing for transitional age youth (TAY)
- New parent support
- Counseling for recent refugees
- Subcategories to make finding resources faster
- Referral and linkage to community programs
Top Priorities
- Continue to curate resources to help users find the resources they need
- 15 guides currently active, 7 in development
- Subcategories to make it easy to search for resources
Per OC Navigator’s Request
Near the end of this page it says:
https://ocnavigator.org/m/ocn/54
Partners – Mental
Health Association
>“More resource guides coming soon!
If you would like to suggest a resource guide, please let us know.” We are suggesting a well-researched, thorough,
up-to-date, dynamic Comprehensive Housing Resource Guide (CHRG). MHA might be
enlisted to work on the CHRG.
- Timeline
- Duration (1 Year and ongoing iterations)
- Documents
- Comprehensive Housing Resource Guide (CHRG)
- Full-bed Record Requirements
- Stars Scoring
- Matching Criteria
- Peace, Sleep & Harmony Criteria
- Negotiations Worksheet
- Sample Site Visit (Housing Advisory)
- Advocacy - Consumer’s Safe to Offer their perspectives
- Derive Stars Score for each location
- Contact Information
- Appendix
- Lists
- Dynamic
Cast of Characters
Anyone working to find a disabled/disadvantaged person a
Good Bed in Orange County California
(*) A housing Help line is still an unmet need in Orange
County and other large counties like LA and San Diego.
(**) This venue is a Model of poor beds. See other studies. Lacked Peace, Harmony and Sleep First Model.
Recovery Sleep First Model
The Sleep Recovery
Pyramid is a four-tier framework that prioritizes how you approach
sleep and physical or mental restoration, starting from foundational daily
needs up to specialized tools.
The Four Levels of the Sleep
Recovery Pyramid
Level 1:
Physical & Sleep
Environment (The Foundation)
Focuses on
your immediate surroundings: mattress, room temperature, bedding materials, darkness, air quality, and noise control.
Level 2:
Circadian Routine &
Behavior
Focuses on
consistent daily habits: regular sleep-wake schedules, natural light exposure,
caffeine and meal timing, and wind-down routines.
Level 3:
Measurement & Data
Focuses on
tracking and analysis: using sleep trackers, wearable technology, baseline metrics, and long-term trend
evaluation.
Level 4:
Targeted Biohacking (The
Peak)
Focuses on
individualized, specialized interventions: red light therapy, saunas, cold
plunge/exposure, or targeted
supplements.
Why the Model Works
Rather than jumping straight to
expensive gadgets or supplements (Level 4), the model is a practical
prioritization tool: you fix your
environment and routine first, because high-tech tracking or biohacking
cannot out-optimize a poor sleep schedule or an uncomfortable bed.
Prospective Users of
the Comprehensive Housing Resource Guide
This effort is part of a larger
project, MHSA Innovation: 20230329.
20260128-W: Massaging into a
general project.
Timeline
>Progress and the conclusion of this effort is dictated by how many
site visits are warranted. We submitted
our MHSA (BHSA) Innovation Project Idea to the HCA on March 29, 2023. Since this time our idea has been forwarded
to BHSA Housing Interventions. We
hope they get around with reviewing it before the end of 2026. We were told they reviewed our idea and that
they would only use some of the components yet not the overall idea in its’
totality.
Sample Site Visit (Insert) – For outsider Stars Score
Contact Information
Lists – Legacy Rent a Shared Room Lists x 1 (MHA, 2023)
Ktork46@yahoo.com
Digitally Signed: September 25, 2023
Thank you for your time and consideration…
List of Beds (MHA,
2023, 3 Pages)
“Thank you for the collaboration
(OC Navigator, 2023)”
Collaborations - CHRG
>The Mental Health Association of Orange County might be called upon
to contribute and collaborate. Many consumers, family members and providers use
on-line resources such as OC Navigator to solve housing issues. Housing
resources might solve problems for the homeless and seniors. We hope the Comprehensive Housing Resource
Guide (CHRG) concentrates on Bed in Room & Boards and Board & Care
Note: Much of the legacy living arrangement/housing material is out of
date.
We suggest a resource
guide with the following qualities.
https://ocnavigator.org/m/ocn/191
Meeting and unmet Community Need - Qualities of a resource guide
A high-quality resource
guide—whether for community health, education, or business—shares several core
qualities that make it practical, trustworthy, and easy to use.
Key Qualities
Accuracy and
Verification:
Information,
phone numbers, addresses, links, and service hours must be fact-checked, proofread,
and free of errors.
Up-to-Date Information:
Resources
change or close over time; a good guide is regularly audited and updated so users do not hit dead ends.
Accessibility and
Clarity:
The layout
should use simple language, clear categories (e.g., housing, food, mental
health), and an intuitive structure (such as a Community Resources Quick Guide) so
users can find help fast.
Audience-Specific Focus:
Tailor content
directly to the needs of the target
group (e.g., veterans, real estate professionals, or students) rather
than listing generic, random links.
Actionable Details:
Beyond just a
name and website, it should explain what the
resource does, who qualifies, how to access it, and what potential barriers (like cost or
transport) might exist.
Reliability and Trust:
Every
recommendation should be vetted to ensure it genuinely benefits the audience rather than existing solely
for promotion or affiliate noise.
20260128-W-Message Submitted
>“MSG and TKC suggest putting together a Housing Resource Guide
following our requirements. We hope to
keep our OCHCA Behavioral Health Advisory Board abreast of our progress. Level
of difficulty = very challenging with many Hurdles to overcome.”
Samples of OC Navigator Materials
The OC Navigator
is an interactive behavioral health
platform launched by the Orange County Health Care Agency (OCHCA) to connect
community members with local mental health, substance use, wellness, and basic
needs resources. Because it operates across specialized sub-portals (such as
public transit and school networks), the program includes a wide collection of educational,
clinical, and community outreach materials.
1. Educational & Wellness
Exercises
The platform heavily features
self-guided tools focused on "Healthiest Self" routines, stress
reduction, and positive psychology. Typical worksheet templates include:
Gratitude Letters:
Structural
templates that prompt users to draft formal letters of appreciation to improve baseline happiness and
personal health.
Three Good Things:
Daily tracking
charts used to log and self-reflect on three positive events.
Mental Subtraction of
Positive Events:
Cognitive
exercises guiding users to visualize
life without its current positive facets to foster gratitude.
Daily Mental Health
Journals:
Printable or
digital templates that integrate wellness toolkits and list localized
mindfulness app recommendations.
2. Curated Community Resource
Guides
OC Navigator maintains hand-picked
directory materials sorted by specific demographics and safety-net needs:
Family & Caregiver
Portals:
"Triple
P" (Positive Parenting Program) informational brochures, Older Adult Master Plan for
Aging resource guides, and Special Health Care Needs checklists.
Crisis Navigation
Indexes:
Pocket guides
highlighting direct contact numbers for the National Suicide and Crisis
Lifeline (988), Teen Line, NAMI OC Warmline, and
regional Deaf/Hard-of-Hearing text networks.
Basic Needs &
Specialized Assistance:
Multi-language
reference materials covering housing resources, refugee assistance, and
domestic violence support programs.
3. Promotional & Outreach
Media
To build community awareness
across Orange County, the platform utilizes diverse campaign materials:
Multilingual
Infographics:
Flyers and
quick-start guides translated across the platform’s 9 supported regional
languages (including Spanish, Vietnamese, Korean, Arabic, Farsi, Mandarin, Khmer,
and Tagalog).
Localized Custom Portals:
Collaborative
outreach collateral deployed in partnership
with local organizations, such as custom student portals (OC Navigator for
Schools) and sports-aligned fan wellness toolkits (OC Navigator for Anaheim
Ducks).
Behavioral Health Advisory Board
(BHAB) Housing
The Behavioral Health
Advisory Board (BHAB) is a state-mandated
citizen and community advisory body established under California Welfare and
Institutions Code (WIC 5604.2) to review, evaluate, and advise county boards of supervisors and behavioral health directors regarding local mental health
and substance use needs, facilities, services, and housing programs.
Role of BHAB Regarding Housing
Needs Assessment &
Review:
BHAB members
evaluate community infrastructure
gaps—including supportive housing, residential care facilities, and
crisis or transitional units—for individuals experiencing serious mental
illness (SMI) and substance use disorders (SUD).
Advocacy & Oversight:
The board
advocates for client-centered housing
models (such as Housing First or supervised group housing) and reviews
local plan allocations under frameworks like the Behavioral Health Services Act
(BHSA).
Public Participation:
BHAB bodies
hold regular public meetings where housing concerns, community program
planning, and local behavioral health facility updates are discussed.
Local BHAB Resources & Meetings
Orange County BHAB:
Advises the Orange County Health Care Agency.
Meetings are typically held monthly (in-person and virtual at 601 N. Ross St.,
Santa Ana, CA).
San Diego County BHAB:
Oversees local
reviews through the San
Diego County Behavioral Health Board.
Ventura County BHAB:
Reviews local
treatment and housing needs via Ventura County Behavioral Health.
Site Visits
Two broad types of Site Visits: Physical (P) and Online (OL)
- Examples
Mental Health Month | Orange County California
https://www.ochealthinfo.com/services-programs/mental-health-crisis-recovery/mhrs-misc/mental-health-month
2020 Mental Health Matters Month Online Activation Kit
Each Mind Matters Tool Kit (2019)
It was a true honor and pleasure
to serve the Orange County community through this project. As the project came
to a close, we extended our deepest
gratitude to all the partners, providers, and community members who
contributed to this meaningful work.
Project Closes
https://healthyanddiverseoc.org/thank-you/
The project officially concluded on June 30, 2025, and the website remained active until that date. Although this chapter has ended, the relationships, resources, and impact we built together will continue to inspire future efforts in mental health, wellness, and community connection. Thank you for being part of this journey.
[Link Broken]
https://www.connect-oc.org/events/event/2544
4th Annual Recovery
Happens Picnic (Orange County / OC Health Care Agency): Held in October (with
events hosted by the OC Health Care Agency Facebook Page and
featured via the News Santa Ana Coverage) featuring
music, arts and crafts, outdoor games, community resources, and a free lunch.
Not available – Online resource only.
OCHCA, Chorus and Mind OC were involved.
Who keeps OC Navigator up to date?
The Orange
County Health Care Agency (HCA) is the primary organization responsible for bringing OC Navigator to the
community.
To keep the platform curated,
accurate, and up to date, the HCA works in partnership with:
Chorus Innovations, Inc.:
The digital
platform developer that maintains the technology behind the website.
Community Members and
Local Agencies:
Over 185
community members representing 65 separate Orange County agencies collaborated
to curate and continuously review the
content. This ensures resources for mental health, substance use,
housing, and wellness remain trustworthy and reflective of the community's
needs.
OC Links:
The platform's
24/7 live-chat and phone
support network, which directly connects users to real-time navigation
assistance.
FYI - You can connect with mental health and substance use support services in Orange County by calling OC Links at (855) 625-4657 or (855) OC-LINKS.
Orange County Health Care Agency
OC Health Care Agency’s New OC Navigator Platform Makes Finding Local
Resources Easy
Aug 3, 2022
“The OC Navigator offers direct resources in multiple
languages for anyone seeking healthcare and supportive services, such as housing,
food, etc. The Orange County Health Care
Agency (HCA) launched the OC Navigator (OCNavigator.org), a free online platform to easily
connect residents with local mental health, substance use, housing, transportation, childcare, and other support services,
featuring a user-friendly search, wellness check-ins, and 24/7 links to trained
navigators via phone, chat, or text for immediate help. Developed with
community input, it's a comprehensive tool for finding curated, trustworthy
resources in multiple languages, simplifying access to a wide array of crucial
support systems in Orange County.
FYI - County Directory Assistance
855.886.5400 (OC GOV)
About This Guide - OC Navigator
https://ocnavigator.org/m/ocn/56
We provide recovery mental health
services which emphasize individual needs, strengths, choices, and involvement
in service planning and
implementation. 9 Entries per
page
Assume 2026 Now funded with Behavioral Health Service Act (BHSA) monies
Navigation Help & Resources | Orange County California
Orange County Health Care Agency
Navigation Help & Resources.
Assists the community in accessing needed mental health and recovery services
and understanding the Continuum of Care system.
FYI - OCHCA Patient Portal
The County of Orange Health Care
Agency (HCA) Patient Portal via CernerHealth provides
secure online access to your personal
health information, medical history, and behavioral health records.
Key Features
Access Records:
View and
download your visit summaries
and personal health data.
Manage Appointments:
Request
non-urgent appointments.
Communicate:
Send secure,
non-urgent messages to your care team.
Note: This portal is not monitored for emergencies or urgent matters
(call 911 or contact your clinic directly in an emergency).
How to Access & Support
Account Setup:
Request an
account invitation during your next office visit.
Login Options:
Log in via the
BHSPortal or through the HealtheLife
mobile app.
Technical Support:
Call (877)
621-8014 if you need assistance with your account.
PAD Promotion - Psychiatric Advance Directive
Browse Categories
Aside - Mini-STR
20230125-W-Initialized this Study
20230316-TH-Personal Problem when during our GEG / JPL
Adventure we lost perception of where we were having the sensation of being
lost.
20230720-TH-Update requirements for Housing Resource Guide. Plan to share at August Behavioral Health Advisory Board (BHAB) meeting as a Housing Advocate.
OC Navigator (Home)
Lived Experience
Sample Entry of Program we are
familiar with – Casa Youth Shelter
Aside - Director of Casa Youth
Shelter taught us Intro to Human Services & Crisis Intervention Management
(2011)
In their day circa
2006-2010 the following materials were sufficient
Sample Legacy List Excerpts
Mental Health Association of Orange County (2006)
2007-2023: Note: Using these lists we have placed about 25
of those in need
Mental Health Association of Orange County
Proprietary
Proprietary relates
to an owner, ownership, or exclusive legal rights over a product, idea, or
process. The CHRG is made for the public
and owned by the public.
Open Resources
>Last time we visited the MHAOC Homeless Service Center the Housing
Specialist indicated they could give out 3 Housing leads at a time. We are going to drop in with updated
materials to indicate the need for sharing all they have with consumers, family
members, and agencies such as OC Navigator.
In the end they did give us what they were currently working with, Kudos
to the MHA.
Orange County Health Care Agency
https://www.ochealthinfo.com/sites/hca/files/import/data/files/50069.pdf
County of Orange Health Care Agency Behavioral Health Services
Funded by Proposition 63 / MHSA Funds
Adult & Older Adult Behavioral Health
Promotion - Welcome to The Navigator
This publication will showcase the Adult and Older Adult
Behavioral Health (AOABH) division. The AOABH division has six primary departments:
- Crisis Services
- Collaborative Services
- Clinic Operations
- Inpatient Services
- Central Services
- Residential Services
The OC Navigator
platform and its associated communications/newsletters
are brought to you and funded by the Orange County Health
Care Agency (HCA).
Funding Source:
The initiative
and platform development have been supported through public funding mechanisms
managed by the Orange County Health Care Agency—including Mental
Health Services Act (MHSA) innovation and
behavioral health funding as part of regional health transformation and community outreach efforts.
Platform Purpose:
OC Navigator is a digital resource tool created to help Orange County residents find local mental health,
substance use, housing, food, and wellness services. It is often tied into
broader county public health updates, such as the HCA's community newsletters
(like the Healthy OC newsletter).
Promotion - Healthy OC Newsletter (Sample 2026)
https://www.ochealthinfo.com/healthy-oc-newsletter#docaccess-cafd78870f62d5e0248d5393b16883aa
Aside: https://www.ochealthinfo.com
AOABH is a County division that provides recovery behavioral
health services; to adult and older adults with serious emotional or mental
health problems. (25 pages)
The one who keeps it all together (OCHCA, 2026)
Table – Work Done Using Lists on Hand – Last Reviewed – 20261109-M
(*) In 2007 we used this list to place ourselves, after
intensive care, at Lisa’s “Doheny” in Irvine.
Next Steps – Developing Resources
We Failed to Sell our
Housing Solutions Bundle Project Idea
>We waited for OCHCA County Readers to read our MHSA Innovations
Project Idea: A Housing Solutions Bundle (HSB).
We published the idea plan on our Housing Advisory Board Blog. We kept developing materials as needed. We were ready to contribute to a Comprehensive
Housing Resource Guide built around the Full Bed Record (FBR). We worked to sell OC Navigator to participate
in the CHRG’s iterative development.
We shared progress with interested parties. We were sustaining our monthly housing
advisories for the Behavioral Health Advisory Board (BHAB). Then we realized it was time to “Kill” our
efforts. We announced to the BHAB we
were now working with Advanced Planning.
Our Housing Advisory Blog has good readership.
20261108-SU-Version (20-Items)
RASR = Concentration on Renting a Shared Room
Over time we might discover other pertinent requirements
|
Item
|
Requirement |
|
01 |
Name of RASR facility |
|
02 |
Facility Contact |
|
03 |
Name of Facility |
|
04 |
Phone Number(s) |
|
05 |
Gender(s) Served |
|
06 |
Ages Served |
|
07 |
Room Density |
|
08 |
Street Address |
|
09 |
Frequency of Openings |
|
10 |
Number to a Room |
|
11 |
Amenities and Privileges |
|
12 |
Cost & Money Related |
|
13 |
Prorating (Yes or No) |
|
14 |
Deposit (Yes or No) |
|
15 |
Meal Status > Provided
or Cook own |
|
16 |
In your facility: Is a good
nights sleep a priority? |
|
17 |
What happened to the last
person in said available Bed? |
|
18 |
Can you have a car? |
|
19 |
If the match isn’t great
are there options? |
|
20 |
Facility Stars Score |
|
21 |
Etc. PRN |
FYI - 20230726-W: Last Update: 20261108-SU: HSB Operations
Handling a 10,000 monthly
call volume for a United Way 211 contract
requires a robust, scalable infrastructure. This workload translates to roughly
333 calls per day, with variations based on peak hours and
community crises. To effectively outsource or manage a 211 helpline contract of
this size, you must consider the following operational requirements and
staffing models:
Staffing and Capacity Planning
Required Headcount:
Roughly 12
to 15 full-time equivalent (FTE) agents are needed.
This baseline assumes an average handle time (AHT) of 5–7 minutes per call and
accounts for 24/7/365 coverage, lunches, breaks, and shifts.
Supervision &
Management:
You will need 1.5
to 2 FTE supervisors or a 211
Resource Manager to maintain quality control, update
resource databases, and generate community intelligence metrics.
Fluctuation buffer:
The system
must handle spikes. During local disasters (e.g., severe weather, utility
outages), 211 centers routinely experience 5x to 10x their
normal call volumes.
Technical & Vendor
Requirements
Omnichannel Capability:
Modern United Way Worldwide standards require
integration for text (SMS) and live chat alongside phone systems.
Database Integration:
Agents must
have instantaneous, API-driven access to the local 211
community resource database (often powered by platforms
like iCarol or Visionlink).
Language Access:
The vendor
must natively support or seamlessly patch in real-time translation services
(e.g., LanguageLine) to accommodate 180+ languages.
Reporting and Deliverables
A standard contract for a
10K/month volume mandates a platform capable of tracking:
Call Metrics:
Abandonment
rate (ideally under 5%), average speed of answer (ASA), and total call handling
time.
Demographics & Data:
Tracking
caller zip codes, top unmet needs (typically housing, food, and utility
assistance), and tracking referrals to specific non-profits or government
agencies.
United Way - 211 OC
2-1-1 Orange County
(211OC), run in partnership
with the Orange County United Way, operates as the primary centralized portal
for individuals looking to assess real-time shelter bed capacity and open
housing resources throughout the county.
How Bed Capacity and Housing
Referrals Work via 211 OC
Rather than maintaining a public static checklist of open
beds, 211OC manages the county's core Homeless Management Information
System (HMIS). This system tracks real-time data across emergency
shelters, transitional housing, and rapid re-housing programs.
The Referral Requirement:
Most shelters
in Orange County require an official agency referral (such as through 211 or
street outreach teams) to access their beds. Self-referrals or walk-ins are highly restricted.
Dynamic Matching:
When you
contact 211, a specialist checks live
database capacity to match you with a facility within a functional
radius based on specific eligibility requirements (e.g., individual beds,
family accommodations, or specialized behavioral health/MHA-related housing).
Instant Ways to Check Live
Openings
To get an immediate assessment of
available bed capacity or begin the intake process for housing programs, you
can reach 211OC directly through multiple confidential avenues:
By Phone:
Dial 2-1-1 (Available 24/7 with multilingual support).
By Text:
Text your ZIP
Code to 898-211 (Monday–Friday, 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM).
Online Directory:
Browse
individual shelter entries and program requirements on the official 211OC Resource Directory.
Affordable Housing
Tracker:
If looking for
fixed low-income apartments rather than emergency shelter beds, you can check
live waitlists via the 211OC
Affordable Housing Access Platform.
FYI – II - Are you trying to find a specific type of shelter bed right now (such as for an individual, a family, or someone needing mental health/behavioral support)? Let me know so I can provide the direct criteria or numbers for those specific Orange County networks.
FYI - 2-1-1 Orange County | Love, Compassion. & Community
The Mission of 2-1-1 Orange County is to help people find
the help they need by eliminating the barriers to finding and accessing social
services in Orange County.
211 Housing
[Lost Resource]
https://211oc.org/content/Housing.html
[Still works]
https://211orangecounty2.my.site.com/s/public-resource-search?keyWord=Housing%20Navigation
[Still works]
https://211orangecounty2.my.site.com/s/public-resource-search?keyWord=Housing%20Search%20Assistance
Is the 211 route to a bed working and effective? (2026)
The 211 route to a bed is highly effective as a central database and initial point of contact,
but it is frequently bottlenecked by a severe nationwide shortage of actual shelter beds and housing resources. To understand its effectiveness, it helps to
distinguish between 211's ability to process your call and the community's
capacity to actually give you a bed.
The Successes:
Why the System Works
Direct Access Point:
As a 24/7
centralized helpline, 211 is the most comprehensive tool for finding local
resources. A longitudinal study published by the National
Institutes of Health (NIH) found that 91% of callers
actively follow up on the referrals they receive, and 82% successfully reach the agency they were
directed to.
Rapid Crisis
Coordination:
For immediate
crises—such as severe weather forcing the opening of emergency warming centers
or natural disasters—211 serves as an efficient tool to route thousands of
people to temporary cots and
emergency hotel vouchers.
System Navigation:
For those who
meet specific demographic criteria (e.g., families with children, veterans,
individuals escaping domestic violence, or those needing immediate
rehabilitation), 211 can successfully navigate complex eligibility rules to secure priority placement.
The Bottlenecks: Where the
System Fails
The "Resource
Gap":
211 operates
as an information directory, not a landlord or shelter operator. Data from United Way Worldwide notes that housing
is consistently the number-one unmet
need reported by 211 call centers, simply because demand drastically
outpaces available beds.
Low Resolution Rates:
Because of
this inventory shortage, the same NIH
study revealed that only about 17% of
callers seeking housing assistance actually receive it through their 211 referrals (compared to a 67% success rate for
food assistance).
Communication Delays:
In a report
published by the Voice of OC, shelter management teams
noted that individual shelters do not always update 211 on bed capacity in real-time. This can result in operators
inadvertently referring people to places that are already entirely full.
Local Variances: Because 211 centers are run by localized branches of nonprofits,
the digital infrastructure and quality of service vary wildly by county and
city.
How to Maximize the 211 Route
If you or someone you know needs
to utilize 211 for shelter, the following strategies can help improve the
outcome:
Be specific about
vulnerabilities:
Disclose if
there are children, pregnancy, physical disabilities, acute mental health needs, or fleeing domestic violence, as
these open up specialized bed tracks.
Ask for "Coordinated
Entry":
Ask the
operator if they can directly register you or the individual into the local
Coordinated Entry System (CES), which acts as the official waitlist for long-term housing programs.
Inquire about alternative
aid:
If a physical bed is unavailable, explicitly ask about diversion resources, such as emergency motel vouchers, rapid re-housing funds, or rent/utility assistance to prevent eviction.
Aside - Housing Resources for Spanish Speakers
By OC Navigator
https://ocnavigator.org/m/ocn/56?resource_id=103299206
MHAOC Housing Guide
The Mental
Health Association of Orange County (MHAOC) supports individuals living with mental illness
in securing stable, permanent housing through a dedicated resource network and collaborative placement. In Orange County, the organization
assists consumers who are unhoused or at risk of homelessness to transition
into independent living environments.
Core Program & Eligibility
The MHAOC housing service is
designed as a collaborative, long-term stabilization program rather than an
emergency or crisis shelter.
Target Audience:
Adults (18+)
with a documented diagnosis of mental illness.
Key Criteria:
Individuals
must be capable of living independently, actively seeking stable housing, and possess a legal source of income
to maintain their rent and personal expenses.
Housing Types:
Placements
focus on permanent, independent living
solutions including room and board, shared housing, room rentals, and
traditional apartment settings.
How to Access Housing Services
MHAOC cannot accept direct
self-referrals or walk-in applications for placement into its supportive
housing programs. All entry must flow
through centralized county channels.
The SPOA Process:
Referrals must
go through the Orange County Adult Single Point of Access
(SPOA) system, which assesses individual needs,
eligibility, and current provider openings.
Timeline Expectations:
Finding a
permanent match through a housing specialist typically takes from a few weeks to several months
depending on county-wide inventory.
MHAOC Contact Information:
For general
inquiries regarding their housing services, you can contact housing
coordinators or region directors at their primary hubs:
West Region (Anaheim
Hub):
MHAOC West Office | 714-638-8277
Central/South Hub (Costa
Mesa):
MHAOC South Office | 949-646-9227
Broader Orange County Housing
Resources
If you are looking for immediate
emergency placement, rental vouchers, or financial relief in Orange County,
these broader programs run parallel to MHAOC:
Orange County 2-1-1:
If you are
facing an immediate housing crisis or need urgent shelter placement, call 2-1-1 or visit 211 Orange County for localized social service
referrals.
Orange County Housing
Authority (OCHA):
OCHA manages
public housing assistance, including the federally funded Housing Choice Voucher Program (Section 8). You
can check for open application windows on the OC Housing Authority Portal.
CalOptima Behavioral
Health:
If you have
Medi-Cal coverage through CalOptima, they offer direct screenings and immediate
medical/housing coordination
at 855-877-3885.
Home and Needs - Take care of your health!
Stable housing acts as a primary foundation for physical
and mental well-being.
How Housing Protects Health
Disease Prevention:
A fixed home
provides private sanitation, running water, and a kitchen to prepare safe food,
which cuts down on infections and helps manage conditions like diabetes or
heart disease.
Stress Reduction:
Having a predictable place to sleep
lowers chronic stress hormones that weaken the immune system.
Healthcare Access:
A stable
address makes it easier to schedule doctor visits, receive mail-order or local
prescriptions, and maintain health insurance.
Covering Basic Needs
Safety from Weather:
Shelter
protects against extreme heat, cold, and environmental hazards.
Clean Living Space:
Keeping a home
free of mold, pests, and toxic materials (like lead or radon) lowers the risk
of asthma and chronic respiratory illnesses.
Rest and Recovery:
Quiet, private
environments allow for quality sleep, which drives cognitive function and
immune health.
Tangent – Person of Interest – Helen Cameron
>20230726-W: Helen Cameron at BHAB is still annoying. When we met her at Brian’s, a consumer’s, funeral
celebration she said we were Bi-polar.
That annoyed us. She has been
working for years, making quite a profit, on affordable housing concerns in
Orange County. She promoted 10 years
to end homelessness. As we know it
is way past ten years and we still have significant numbers of homeless
people. She is associated with Jamboree
Housing. She never came up to us and
said “I can get you into a good place” although she knew we were in need. We are willing to bet that a substantial
percentage of those with a diagnosis have housing issues.
20261108-SU-3.9 stars with 38 Google reviews
https://www.jamboreehousing.com/
Note: Refer to Mental Health Association of Orange County
Housing List we shared earlier in this document.
OC Affrd_Hsing List Updated Revised 12.11.2020
Orange County Housing Authority
(23 Pages)
This list is intended to assist
individuals looking for affordable
rental housing throughout Orange County. This Is Not A List Of
Vacancies. Orange County Housing Authority (OCHA) administers federally funded
programs to provide rental assistance
to qualified tenants. Please note that OC Community Resources provides and maintains this list,
however, OC Community Resources does
not assist individuals with looking for affordable rental housing
units. Individuals must call the number under CONTACT INFORMATION to find out
if units are available and the associated rent for those units. Rents may vary
between complexes.
What is low income in Orange County CA? (2026)
In Orange County, California, a
single person earning $104,200 or less
per year is considered low income, and a family of four
earning $148,850 or less qualifies as low income, according to
the official guidelines from the California Department of Housing and Community
Development (HCD).
Orange County Low-Income
Limits by Household Size
Why Six-Figure Salaries
Qualify
High Housing Costs:
Because local
home prices and rental rates are exceptionally
high (with median home prices scaling past $1.4 million and average monthly rents near
$2,900), state calculations adjust income limits upward.
Assistance Eligibility:
These metrics
are used by local agencies and developments—such as those tracked via the City of Irvine Affordable Housing Guide—to
determine who qualifies for income-restricted housing and community programs.
Public Reactions:
While the
numbers reflect regional economic strain, opinions are mixed on Reddit's r/orangecounty community thread, where
residents frequently debate whether a six-figure salary should truly be
categorized as "low income".
Searching for Resources
FYI - Mental Health
Association of Orange County (MHAOC)
We are dedicated to improving the quality of life of Orange
County residents impacted by mental illness through direct service, advocacy,
education, and information dissemination.
Orange County
If you are homeless, have a mental health challenge and you
are seeking help, call or visit our Homeless Multi-Service Center.
Key Local Services:
- Bridges at Kraemer Place: Emergency shelter in Anaheim.
- Yale Navigation Center: Emergency shelter in Santa Ana.
- Costa Mesa Bridge Shelter: Offers, for instance, interim housing and services.
- Mariposa Center: Provides mental health services and, specifically, support for the OC homeless community.
Housing Resource Guide (80 Pages)
Has names and phone numbers – Lacks Number of Bed Counts
https://ochealthinfo.com/sites/hca/files/import/data/files/65661.pdf
Directed at persons with HIV with or without AIDS
Housing Resources
- Long-term/Independent Living
- Shared Housing Program
- Single Room Occupancy (SRO) Facilities
- Roommate Referral
- Rental Assistance Programs
- Shelters and Transitional Living
- Residential Recovery/Detox Programs
- Hospice, Skilled Nursing Facilities and Assisted Living
- Adult Day Centers
- Residential Services for the Mentally Ill
- Homeless Resources Quick Reference Guide
- Supportive Resources
- Utility Assistance
- Landlord/Tenant Issues
- Transportation Assistance
- Miscellaneous
Surfing OC Navigator
– Resource Guides
https://ocnavigator.org/m/ocn/54
https://ocnavigator.org/m/ocn/56?resource_id=101260284
Redirects to Welcome Page
More resource guides coming soon!
If you would like to suggest a resource guide, please let us
know.
This publication stands as proof of our CHRG suggestion.
-
https://ocnavigator.org/m/ocn/54
Connect with us
https://ocnavigator.org/m/ocn/191
Thank you for your interest in the OC Navigator. Please fill
out the form below to let us know how you would like to stay connected, suggest an improvement, or learn
more about partnering with us.
I would like To:
Get an address for OCNavigator
We wanted to hand off our Housing Resources. They don’t have a physical location. We have yet to hear back from them. OC Navigator is an online resource maintained by the OCHCA.
Suggest a resource guide
This paper outlines what we think is needed to meet an unmet
need, placing everyone in a
Great Bed, in housing the disadvantaged and disabled.
Suggest a Resource or Guide
Housing Activities they can do in the meanwhile
Resource Guide Suggestions
Outline for Housing & Living Arrangements Resource Guide
Handing off the idea and work effort
Resources for finding a Great Bed
https://ocnavigator.org/m/ocn/191
20260309-M-Submitted to OC Navigator – Suggested Sections
First Iteration
Requirements – Initializing a Record
- Contact Information
- Name of Facility
- Number of Beds
- Address of Facility
- Phone Number Contact
- Contact Person
- City
- Cost
- Gender
Core - Dayle McIntosh
Center (4 Page) – List [2025, PDF]
https://daylemc.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/2025-Housing-Resource-List-shelter.pdf
CES housing options include: shelters, domestic violence shelters, transitional housing, Rapid ReHousing support (RRH), and permanent housing programs.
Reasons Why People Go Homeless
While the vast majority of
homelessness results from uncontrollable
circumstances like poverty, trauma, or lack of affordable housing, some
individuals may choose, or be forced by circumstances to accept, a lifestyle
without traditional housing. This choice is often driven by a desire for
freedom from societal pressures, addiction, mental health issues, or to escape dangerous situations.
Aside - Why check yourself in to
your local state mental hospital?
Checking yourself into a state mental hospital provides immediate, 24/7 care to stabilize severe, acute mental health crises, such as suicidal thoughts, psychosis, severe mania, or inability to care for yourself. It is a safe, structured, and confidential environment to manage symptoms and transition back to daily life.
OC Navigator - Sample Resource Guides
https://ocnavigator.org/m/ocn/54
Resource Guides
Browse hand-picked lists of resources for different needs and topics created with partner organizations and members of the OC community.
About OC Navigator
Resources for Coping with Grief and Loss by Mental Health and Recovery Services Disaster Response
Veterans Resources in Orange County by OCHCA Veteran
Child, Adolescent, and Young Adult Mental Health and Substance Use Resources by OC Links
Help with Substance Use: Resources in OC by OC Links
OC Housing Resources for Spanish Speakers by Minnie Street Family Resource Center
OC Older Adult Mental Health Resource Guide by OC Mental Health Board
OC Medical Resources for Families by OC Navigator
FYI - Section of beach being used as a homeless encampment with tents, bikes, and clothes strewn about.
OC Resources for People Experiencing Homelessness/at Risk of Homelessness by Office of Care Coordination, County of Orange
OC Veteran Resources by City of Anaheim
If you would like to suggest a resource guide, please let us know.
Surfing OC Navigator
Links in Matrix Work
About This Guide (ATG) Page
Links in Matrix Work
Tangent - Summary – Links, redirects and chains
Dead links, redirect loops, and
redirect chains are common website technical issues that hurt user experience and SEO crawl health.
1. Dead Links (Broken Links)
What it is:
A link
pointing to a page that no longer exists
or returns an error (typically a 404 Not Found or 500 Server Error).
Common Causes:
Deleted
content without a redirect, URL restructuring/redesigns, expired domains, or typos.
SEO & UX Impact:
Wastes search
engine crawl budget, breaks link equity
flow, and increases visitor bounce
rates.
How to Fix:
Scan the site
with a crawler tool (like Screaming Frog or Sitebulb), set up 301
redirects for moved pages, or update/remove dead links.
2. Redirect Chains
What it is:
A linear
sequence where URL A redirects to URL B, which redirects to URL C before
finally reaching a destination page (A → B → C → 200).
Common Causes:
Site
migrations, accumulated legacy rules, or unmerged HTTP/HTTPS and www/non-www
updates.
SEO & UX Impact:
Adds latency
to page loads and can dilute PageRank or waste crawl resources.
How to Fix:
Collapse the path directly to
the final destination (change A → B → C into a direct A → C redirect).
3. Redirect Loops
What it is:
An endless
circular redirect (e.g., URL A redirects to URL B, which redirects right back
to URL A: A → B → A).
Common Causes:
Conflicting
protocol rules (HTTP vs. HTTPS), www vs. non-www mismatches, or conflicting
instructions between a CDN, web server (.htaccess, Nginx), and CMS plugins.
SEO & UX Impact:
Hard failure.
The browser hits a hop limit
and displays an error like ERR_TOO_MANY_REDIRECTS, blocking users and trapping search bots.
How to Fix:
Isolate and
remove the circular rule, align protocol/host enforcement across servers and
CDNs, and assign single-layer rule ownership.
