Who We Are & What We Do
The Basics
HomeAid Orange County | Los Angeles approaches the crisis of homelessness with a unique and collaborative mindset. Our model, rooted in in-kind donations of labor and materials from our building industry partners, saves a significant cost on each HomeAid-built housing project. We partner with nonprofits to increase their capacity to serve our unhoused neighbors and also build our own developments to create additional units of housing.
Since 1989, HomeAid OCLA has developed 108 projects, ranging from emergency shelters to affordable housing, and added nearly 3,000 beds to Orange, Los Angeles and Ventura counties.
HomeAid OCLA is the founding affiliate of HomeAid.
Our Vision
To be a vital force in creating safe and dignified housing for people who are experiencing or at risk of homelessness.
Our Purpose
To improve or expand housing and resources for people experiencing or at risk of homelessness and to advocate for housing as a human right.
What Drives Us
Inclusiveness: Every individual has worth and human dignity. Through a willingness to help our neighbors in times of need and to understand the unique stories behind each person we serve, inclusivity is one of our three core values.
Collaboration: We embrace working together as a community to achieve what we know is not possible alone. By coming together, we can do more to support the people we house and serve.
Integrity: Ensuring that everything we do is accomplished with a sense of responsibility, honesty, respect, confidence, and a commitment to stay consistently aligned with our mission.
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Per 2024 Point-in-Time Count, there are nearly 78,000 unhoused humans experiencing homelessness in Los Angeles and Ventura counties, and we want to help build housing to immediately help with the expertise we have through our leadership.
As the building industry continues to use our expertise, trade partners and buying power as a housing solution, we recognized the efficiencies of working in multiple Southern California Counties just as our building partners due business in multiple counties.
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HomeAid Orange County has been working in the community for 36 years, completing 78 projects, which added 2,482 beds to the county, and helped over 80,000 people end their homelessness or get one step closer to finding their next housing opportunity.
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Yes, HomeAid Los Angeles was originally founded in 1990 as the 3rd affiliate of HomeAid America. After a slight pause in activity, the HomeAid Orange County Chapter expanded its territory to include Los Angeles and Ventura Counties in 2025.
Before the expansion, HomeAid Los Angeles added or preserved nearly 400 beds and saved service providers nearly $3.5 million over the years in building costs. These 35 projects benefit organizations that serve victims of domestic violence, teen mothers, abused and abandoned children, and veterans.
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We attack the reality of homelessness by providing shelter through affordable developments. Dollars raised for HomeAid stretch much further than traditional capital campaigns through our building industry partners. We garner deep discounts on materials and labor, with a typical cost savings of 35-50%, and even sometimes receiving 100% donated labor and materials. This means capital improvements for our project partners cost much less than non-HomeAid built projects. This saved allows service providers to use the saved funds in order to provide assistance to more people experiencing homelessness.
Frequently Asked Questions
The Power of a Triangle
The triangle is one of the most simple shapes yet it exudes strength, stability, and can bear the weight cast upon it from virtually any angle. The triangle is often found in varying elements of construction including building support and trusses.
Just like a triangle built into home supports, the three sides of HomeAid’s triangle are each critical components. They clearly demonstrate how we serve people who are experiencing or at risk of homelessness.
Construction
Building quality and dignified housing that gives people a safe place to call home.
Community Engagement
Restoring hope and getting critically needed resources into the community.
Education
Learning and conversation is the first step to building more inclusive communities.
Our Story
It All Started with a Farmhouse
In 1989, HomeAid was founded with the goal of ending homelessness by leveraging the trades within the building industry. Our first housing project was a renovation of a farmhouse in the City of Irvine in 1989.
Established by the Building Industry Association of Southern California, Orange County Chapter, we primarily construct housing for nonprofit service providers and public entities that serve people experiencing homelessness. Our unique model, centered around in-kind donations of labor and materials from our building industry partners, saves up to 100% of market costs on each HomeAid housing construction project.
As HomeAid, we believe that housing is a human right. Every person deserves a safe and dignified space to call home, and homelessness is not healthy for anyone. Each HomeAid project brings us one step closer to our goal: building a future without homelessness.
Our Evolution
And Now:
We Believe that Homelessness is Not Healthy for Anyone
Every person has worth and human dignity, and is deserving of a place to call home.