Laguna Beach dedicates November to helping the homeless and hungry
Laguna Beach’s annual National Hunger & Homelessness Awareness Month will feature food and toiletry drives and a solution-driven panel discussion.
The November event, organized by Laguna’s Housing and Human Services Committee, calls attention to the hungry and homeless in need at the local, county and national levels as well as opportunities to help them.
A panel discussion, “Housing in Orange County: Challenges and Solutions,” will begin at 1 p.m. Nov. 12 inside the Laguna Beach City Council chambers at 505 Forest Ave.
Panelists include Heather Stratman, executive director of the Assn. of California Cities, Orange County; Brenyale Toomer-Byas, housing and income director of Orange County United Way; and Dawn Price, Friendship Shelter executive director. Karen Williams, president and chief executive of 2-1-1 Orange County will moderate.
“Last year’s panel discussion was so successful, that I decided to step in this year and help the committee form the panel discussion with another set of experts and heavy hitters in Orange County that really know about housing issues in Orange County and the possible solutions that they are working on,” Williams said in a new release.
The event is open to the public. Panelists are accepting questions in advance at info@lagunahungryandhomeless.org.
Based on findings from the 2015 Point-in-Time Count and Survey, 4,452 people were homeless on a given night in the county — 5% more than in 2013.
The number had declined from 8,333 in 2009 to 6,939 in 2011, according to the survey, conducted by the Orange County Commission to End Homelessness, 2-1-1 Orange County and the Orange County Health Care Agency.
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development defines homelessness as living on the streets, in cars and in emergency shelters. People living in motels or hotels or staying with friends don’t meet the federal definition.
In addition to the panel discussion, the Laguna Food Pantry plans a month-long food drive. Residents can drop off non-perishable food items, such as pasta and sauce, rice, beans, peanut butter, jelly, cereal and tuna at the U.S. Bank, 310 Glenneyre St., and other locations.
Waste Management will deliver goods to the pantry, which collects and distributes 2,000 pounds of free groceries each weekday to people from area low-income households, at its facility at 20652 Laguna Canyon Road.
Girl Scouts and the Laguna Beach Community Clinic are teaming up on a month-long toiletry drive. Residents can drop off items, such as sunscreen, lotion, lip balm, toothpaste, toothbrushes, deodorant and disposable razors, at bins citywide. They are located at Boys & Girls Club of Laguna Beach branches, the Laguna Beach Community & Susi Q Center, at 380 Third St., and various churches.
Toiletries will be delivered to the Alternative Sleeping Location in Laguna Canyon, an emergency overnight shelter that offers meals and a place to sleep for 45 people.
Other ongoing service opportunities include cooking a meal for the 32 men and women who live at the Friendship Shelter, 1335 S. Coast Hwy., through the organization’s guest chef program. For information, call (949) 494-6928.
Shelter residents are expected to earn an income, save money and develop a plan for living on their own, according to the organization’s website.
Friendship Shelter will also sponsor Laguna Beach’s annual Thanksgiving potluck at noon Nov. 24 at the Neighborhood Congregational Church, 340 St. Ann’s Drive.
For information on the National Hunger & Homelessness Awareness Month, visit lagunahungryandhomeless.org.
Twitter: @AldertonBryce
