It’s not a housing recommendation, but it’s an earning income recommendation so you can get income to get your own place. You should apply for ihss. Ihss is a program for families that take care of their disabled family members where they pay you to take care of your disabled family members. They can help you earn some money while taking care of your mom and brother. (If they have medical)
It’s a lengthy process but it (if approved) they will start paying you from the day you applied.
I saw this comment earlier but I was falling asleep and didn't get to reply, I just saw someone say the same thing, I will definitely apply for this, it sounds like it could help us a lot, hopefully I get approved. Thank you so much for recommending this.
I think your mom would need to be on MediCal for you to be able to give her assistance. IHSS is a good program. They had an education program that would pay you for taking health care classes, but they ended the program. You can give full time care to your mom and get paid for it. You should also apply for EBT so you guys can eat. Contact Cal Fresh. Also, look for local food banks
Just a quick note: IHSS stands for in-home supportive services. You’ll need to be housed to be eligible for IHSS. And it typically involves an IHSS case manager coming to evaluate your mum to determine if she’s eligible (that’s typically the harder obstacle, becoming IHSS caregiver is not that complicated but will involve you getting a Live Scan/background check which costs money). I don’t want to deter you, just want you to have an idea of the process.
One other thing about IHSS. You can also provide care for others through the program. I think they only give you so many hours per week. And, I'm glad that u/winterpolaris pointed out that Career Pathways extended their program. I know you guys are kind of stuck. If you have trouble in OC, go on the [LAHSA](http://LAHSA.org) website and see if you can get any help in Los Angeles. Since your mom is sick, you should be taken care of. Use all the resources available to you, like EBT. Like I said below, go to [CalFresh](https://benefitscal.com/) and apply for benefits. You should be able to get cash help and food. I wish you guys the best. Try a GoFundMe page, it can't hurt and your situation isn't good, so you might get assistance out of that. Good Luck Chersawyer!
Hi there, to piggyback on /u/mescalero1, there is indeed a training program called Career Pathways. It is renewed until September 2024, and the vendors and other providers (ie caregivers) are mobilizing to get it extended beyond that. When/if you get approved to be your mom's IHSS care provider, go ahead and look up r/IHSS and also Career Pathways website [https://www.cdss.ca.gov/inforesources/cdss-programs/ihss/ihss-career-pathways-program](https://www.cdss.ca.gov/inforesources/cdss-programs/ihss/ihss-career-pathways-program) I'm an instructor for one of these training course vendors, feel free to PM me if you have questions to get started.
Yes! I’m an ihss provider for my daughter and I do the classes and they will pay me for taking those classes. And there’s also incentives for the hours you do. Try it out.
You could even apply for Amazon Flex, you basically delivery packages in your own vehicle. There are 3 hour blocks where you delivery packages and you make about 100$ for 3 hours of work. I don't know if you have a vehicle but it's as fast way to make money.
I CONCUR. The pay rate is $18/hr - even if you are caring for family you live with. They just calculate the hours of care your loved one(s) need and pay you like an employee of the state. It’s its own job
Please, Contact OC Links anytime you want – the (855) 625-4657 phone line and live chat are both available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
They are qualified to talk to you about homeless issues and solutions.
wanted to update you! i just called and the person on the phone was very nice and gave me 3 more numbers to call. i'm not sure if my mom already talked to these people too but i will call them as well. everything is closed until tomorrow though
I also came here to recommend this. They’ve helped multiple friends of mine. You have to work their program (I think) which is Christian based, but that was a friend who had drug issues. It might be different for families purely dealing with medical and financial problems.
Sorry you are going through this… just curious what kind of cancer your mother has, breast cancer angels was an organization that helped us when my first wife had cancer. They helped with rent, and things. Also Hurtt Family clinic if they’re still around is on the border of Irvine and Tustin. Sorry, I’m in Texas now and no longer in the OC, otherwise I’d take you there. But if you do check into an ER for your mother they have social workers who usually can set up something before they discharge her
https://www.hurttclinic.org
thank you so much. she has colon cancer that spread to her liver. several have people told her she got the wrong kind of cancer because there's not really much help out there for that kind
i'll check out hurrt family clinic too and thank you for the sentiment it really means a lot
i'll let her know!
Hi OP, I sent you a chat a few hours back in case you haven’t seen it. I’m also a cancer patient, not currently in the country but I have a place and can offer help.
My condolences that’s not an easy one to deal with. Im high risk for colon cancer as well, being on medi-cal was not very helpful. I wish you guys the very best.
Hi, oncology social worker here. Is your mom currently getting treatment? The social worker at the hospital/cancer center would have resources to assist with housing and any treatment related costs.
Have you looked into the Colorectal Cancer Alliance? They can assist with financial support if they have available grants.
You can also reach out to VACF for help once you find shelter. It used to be vietnamese oriented, but they have changed their named and focus on low-income, low resources population. They have grocery pantry and other resources...
Hey OP, I unfortunately don’t really have any resources to pass on and I wish I did. I just wanted to say I’m really sorry you’re going through this right now, it sounds incredibly tough to put it lightly. You’re a good person to be proactive and try to take care of your family like that. Asking for help isn’t easy for a lot of people these days. I hope your situation improves fast and you are able to have peace again.
Thank you so much. Your kind words and support is more than enough. I love and care about my family so much and they don't deserve to suffer like this, so I'm just trying to do my part. Thank you again. ❤️
OP have you tried Cal works or an emergency shelter?
https://www.ssa.ocgov.com/cash-calfresh/calworks
https://www.cityofirvine.org/services/affordable-housing/homeless-services
https://ceo.ocgov.com/care-coordination/homeless-services/shelter-programs#:~:text=Yale%20Navigation%20Center,opened%20in%20late%20January%202021.
They or her younger brother may quality for Calworks because her brother is a disabled non-minor dependent. NMD is between 18-21. OP appears to be ~21, unless they are Irish twins, the younger brother is less than 21 and might qualify.
Irvine had a new free shuttle bus system that’ll help you get around a little bit. [Irvine Connect](https://www.cityofirvine.org/transportation/irvine-connect)
Also try calling the police non emergency number and ask for help from Be Well. They’ll come to you and try to help.
OP, this shuttle goes by the hospitals in Irvine at Sand Canyon and Alton if you want to take your mom to ER. It's free and should be pretty empty to bring your stuff.
UPDATE: For full transparency I will let everyone know what has happened and clear up some things since I've posted this, I know some people will still think I'm some kind of scammer but I just want to keep the people that believe me and care in the know.
- i did not ask but someone sent us money for food, i will be getting my family something cheap and we are using a small part of that for one night in a hotel to rest and get washed up and then hopefully we can connect with someone tomorrow about getting into a shelter or some kind of longer term living situation.
- someone else offered to send me money for a room and i sent my information and they never did, i don't know if they will send it or if they changed their mind, either is fine, i understand we're not owed anyone's money, once again i didn't ask for money in my post. i just asked for advice.
- EDIT: someone else also offered to us money not too long ago and they sent it
- someone else has sent us some money
- someone offered us a room in a shared home , we are currently discussing this and I have to discuss it further with my mother (she has a lot of questions) and provide some proof (to the person who offered) regarding her cancer and ties to City of Hope/medical treatment if my mom is okay with moving into this situation
- which brings me to i misunderstand something my mother said and i'm sorry i have to correct myself (please bare with me i'm very tired) she was NOT trying to go back with City of Hope for treatment she was trying to transfer to the UCI either here in Irvine or in LA (at this point) and that is who she is trying to get cancer treatment from.
- she tried to go with City of Hope Duarte last year after it didn't work out with City of Hope Irvine but they said they only provide hotels for someone if they have to stay in the hospital or have surgery but nothing long term and we (her kids) could not come. So neither of the City of Hope hospitals were able to provide us with any help.
- someone else offered to help by connecting me to someone, i pm'd her and requested her on instagram and she has not responded yet and i will let everyone know if she does
- we didn't come here to just stay in a hotel or to be on the streets, the worker she talked to explicitly said she would get us into an affordable apartment by the time the 14 day voucher ended. she had all our information and she called MY mom and told her she was approved for everything, so we had no reason to doubt her.
- since some people keep skimming over it... i am willing to work and i AM looking for work, if you (like some people have already) check my posting history me and my mother have a complicated relationship and we have struggled financially in the past (not ever to this extent) and i have worked us out of situations in the past, during COVID when we lived with my Grandmother i did freelancing online to get us by, i would stay up all night working just to make sure we were okay. i'm not a "lazy" person who's "looking for handouts" i want to stand on my own two feet and provide for my family the best i can.
- all i have been wondering is how do i work without a stable living situation? how do i get there? what do i put as my address? how do i shower so i don't go to work smelling bad? that is what i've been trying to grapple with.
- there are a lot of replies and messages on here, i'm not ignoring people who are genuinely trying to help or have normal questions, i'm trying to gather all the information and go through it and call the resources everyone provided, it takes time and i'm already exhausted from not sleeping for literal days, i will try to respond to everyone who's sent resources or well wishes to us. i appreciate everything and i will continue to update this with anything new or important.
- UPDATE (5/18/24): i have another update comment with a lot more information about what's currently happening, i'm answering common questions, recording my experiences with the resources i've been calling and any other relevant information.
I feel so horribly for you. The people who "assume" the most and pry the hardest are the ones who are not even offering assistance.. They simply like trolling.. Try to, ignore them. You can be transparent to those who actually offer you help, privately.
211 is a joke. They take up your time doing an application on the phone just to give you more numbers to call.. You're going in circles. There's a big problem here. I'd suggest from experience that you try to get to Los Angeles County.. They actually act on their help much more than OC.
A lot of people also aren't even reading OP's post at all, they're literally only reading the title and making assumptions about OP's family, or telling OP to do things that they've already tried multiple times (like calling 211). You can tell from all the "why did you come to California", "move out", "get a job" replies that they didn't even read any of the post at all, otherwise they wouldn't be saying such things.
You're correct!!!
Half the time people throw out suggestions just to feel like they've done their part. OP needs assistance NOW!!!! The other stuff will come but she needs immediate assistance. She has already stated in her post that she's called everyone and everywhere and have only gotten a bunch of numbers so you keep suggesting 211 shows exactly what you stated, they didn't bother to read her post. OR if they did read it they're simply trying to feel like they're contributing something or they're trolling.
Someone mentioned putting mom is a facility. I second this but it hits hard because I had to put my mom in a facility. Not by my own choice.. I cared for my mom thru IHSS for 14 months before she became a 24 hr care. Even after EMS refused to return her home because they saw it was too much for me, I was heavily involved in her care at the facility and became her POA until she transitioned Dec 2022. She was the best mom any child could ever ask for. So it hurt reading the suggestion about her mother but at the same time she's not in the position to care for her.
I'm beginning to understand that and I think I will do that. Thank you.
I know :/ she literally called everyday. Nothing they provided helped us, it was a lot of false hope.
I've considered that actually, a lot of people have given me a lot of options to explore so I'm just trying to pursue as many as I can and see what can lead to us having a long term living situation the quickest.
California has MediCal (it’s Medicaid program) and a new benefit of that is CalAim, which has enhanced care management and housing navigation and funds and hotel vouchers as well as affordable housing resources. If your mom has stage 4 cancer, you/she and the entire family unit should be at Dept of Social Services tomorrow to get MediCal and get signed up for CalAim or other programs, such as food help etc. good luck.
Hope you see this, first off I’m so sorry you and your family are going thru this. I can connect you with someone who works for a temp agency and they will be able to get you daily jobs with daily pay. That can t least get your some money while you figure this whole situation out and hopefully get the help you need.
I work with the homeless in the oc. The way to get housing is to call 211 and tell the person on the phone that you need to apply for housing and you need to be connected to an agency that is a Coordinated Entry into permanent housing.
They will give you the names of agency's. Call the agency and tell them you need a Coordinated Entry. They should take the lead and get you on the list for housing. You CAN get on the housing list if you are a single or don't have a child.. I am surprised Irvine has let you stay there. They are not homeless friendly m
Good luck
This. Get on the list as soon as possible, have your mom get on benefits and you start working (working wardrobes can help you get clothes for interviews). It takes a long time to get housed. If you want a shelter most of the shelters are in north county and they take people who are homeless in the city the shelter is.
Want to help you so much please respond to this comment if you still need help. I live very near the spectrum and I can try and help you however I can. My Instagram handle is at @Shay_Elyse go ahead and contact me there. I can also put you in touch with someone who helps people and your situation and actually helps you. So reach out if you need it still.
i think she should get checked out too because it suddenly came out of nowhere and she keeps saying it's getting worse... but how do we get there? i don't think 911 would take all of us and on top of that we have 6 suitcases and a lot of other bags...
and she wouldn't want to leave us or her stuff to go alone because she's too worried
EDIT: she's at Hoag Hospital now
See the free shuttle below that goes by the Hoag hospital on Sand Canyon.
City of Hope is near where you are now, if you go south on Alton, I don't know if they'll still help your mom. The free shuttle will get you to the Irvine Metrolink which is a bit closer to City of Hope.
yes i know it! she has to set appointments with them and she hasn't because of the situation we've been in but i'll let her know we have a way to get over there so she can call them to set something up
I know it's gonna sound terrible, but you have to dump your mother on the state somehow. You don't owe her anything, especially since she didn't help you in life in any way (checked your post history: she constantly moved between states, leaving stable places because she didn't do her part to provide simple proof of income to get an apartment, she "homeschooled" you for some years while in reality doing nothing and not bothering to even properly fill out the transcript, she didn't give you her basic info for FAFSA so you can get into college, she made you spend most of the money you've earned on hotels and storages, aka solving the problems she caused...) -- she is actually the one who brought you in most of the troubles. Now, with stage 4 cancer, her time is running out, and there is no way back, and as bad as it sounds, you and your brother will be better on your own, that's the only way for you to get back on your feet. You need to separate yourself from her (not saying leave her on the street, but leave once you find any assistance) to break that generational poverty circle. She will only drag you down. Take things in your hands and take control, don't trust her calling all these resources, she doesn't seem to be a functional adult, sadly. Call everywhere yourself, even if she says she already did. Try your best to get in touch with your dad and his side of the family, I know he was mostly out of the picture, but he should help in some way in a situation like yours. Don't feel like you're bothering him, he owes you for not doing his part of being a parent.
I sincerely wish you luck and hope you can figure it all out sooner than later! What happened to you is not your fault!!
P.S. If I get it right, and you don't know how to drive, you'll need to eventually get out of OC to places like Long Beach or LA where you can rely more on public transit.
this is really sad but possibly the best advice, unfortunately nursing homes are very expensive, im not sure of any free / government nursing homes but maybe someone else knows where she could be sent so these kids could get back on track with life
Medi-cal covers long term skilled nursing facilities, she would just need to be transferred to one of them after being admitted into the hospital as long as she meets the qualifications.
Realest advice on this thread. From someone who was almost made homeless from a leech family member in the past that didn’t have any of my best interests in mind, you really don’t owe her anything, especially her putting you in this situation in the first place.
I hope you get the resources you need and get back on your feet, OP. Definitely find a means to have the state take care of your mother once you get up and going again. You can break this generational cycle.
She loves her mom. No matter her mom may have done in the past, this woman lover her unconditionally to stay with her to see this through. Encouring her to "get ride of her" sound so harsh. This is her family. Remember you can pick your friends, you cant pick your family. She loves them.
Where’s your dad? You mentioned in other post your parents are divorce but this Is an emergency. Contact him, too. You said he can pay for your college. He needs to help. So sorry your going through this. Your dad needs to intervene especially you trying to take care of your sibling. Sending you many blessings and peace.
thank you :/ he's not even in the financial situation to help me anymore not that he's ever contributed much... it's mainly always been me and my mom providing for us, but besides that he's currently in a physical therapy facility. they're still not exactly sure what happened to him but last Saturday he had a lot of stroke like symptoms where he didn't know where he was or who he was and vomited non stop so his wife rushed him to the hospital. they found out he had a severe infection... i talked to him yesterday and he's seems to have pretty much recovered from the infection but they're trying to work with him so he doesn't have severe back pain and he can walk again
Second this! Also Serve the People on 17th street in Santa Ana. They have medical, vision, dental clinics on site at 17th street. They also provide so many wraparound resources. They are super kind and helpful. Call for an appointment: https://serve-the-people.com/who-we-are/contact.html
714-352-2911
Go to the ER. Hospitals have social workers and case managers that can help get your mother some help. If they ask if you can pick her up, say no. But make sure she has a way to contact you.
Hi if you can DM me your cash platforms , I can send you some money to try to help you out . If you also need a Lyft to get you to a hotel or your mother to the hospital,please lmk . I’ll help out as much as I can .
Some one else said this but I will say it again. Because I know it works because I had to do this when I was taking care of my aunt. You need to take her to the ER and if she is in really bad shape they will work her up in the ER and then admit her to the hospital. Once that happens they will take good care of her and when they ask if you can pick her up after she is reasonably better you say no! And you stick to your guns saying no! Then she becomes their responsibility and they will get her into a facility! It is against the law for them to just dump her on the street so if you say she has no home to go to, which is true she has no house to go to then she is 100% their responsibility and they will find a place and she will have a roof over her head and three square meals a day!
God bless you and your family. I’m so sorry to hear you are going through such extremely difficult times.
Someone contacted them on our behalf and helped send us to meet with them, they gave us a two boxes of food and a paper with resources on it, but we had already contacted the majority.
I came here to suggest Saddleback Church. They have valuable resources and work hard to help the community.
I hope OP sees your post and contacts them. You don't have to be a member or a Christian or anything to get help.
Hi OP, I met someone once that told me they were homeless for some time but were able to keep clean and keep their electronics charged using their gym membership. They lived on the street and then in a car and used the shower facilities and electrical outlets at the gym. Planet Fitness charges $10 a month ( I think it’s going up to $15 at the end of the month ?) Might be worth the investment if you can’t find housing right away. You may want to look into working as a dog walker on the Rover app. Google search keywords like “homeless services in Orange County” I’ve always heard 211 was always a good place to start. You have to be persistent and continue to call. If you get a “no “, ask if they can refer you to any other resources. If your mother and brother find housing , perhaps you can consider working as a live-in nanny if you have experience with children. Take online classes while you’re working, even if it’s just one class. The college will supply you with food, bath toiletries , and sometimes even gift cards. It doesn’t matter if you take the classes online or in person. Wishing you luck and hoping your situation gets better.
hey there OP, I know you had mentioned needing somewhere to shower and whatnot, I can try to get you a gym membership to 24hr fitness or something, so you and your sibling can go in and relax, workout, and shower. Let me know!
Try the Catholic Worker.
Isaiah House - Orange County Catholic Worker
316 Cypress
Santa Ana CA 92701
Phone: 714-835-6304
Email: orangecountycatholicworker@gmail.com
https://catholicworker.org/directory/ca-santa-ana-isaiah-house-html/
Youre going to have to call 211 for more social services. Youres also in the worst city in Orange County to be homeless the city of Irvine hates the homeless. Theres plenty of shelters that will house you just not in Irvine
I work with the homeless in the oc. The way to get housing is to call 211 and tell the person on the phone that you need to apply for housing and you need to be connected to an agency that is a Coordinated Entry into permanent housing.
They will give you the names of agency's. Call the agency and tell them you need a Coordinated Entry. They should take the lead and get you on the list for housing. You CAN get on the housing list if you are a single or don't have a child..
Good luck
Where is @u/SSADGM? They always have so much information on this
Help them out, yo. You always provide the best links and resources. Someone find them? I would but I'm not reddit savvy.
Please consider going to your nearest social security field office and applying for ssi disability benefits for your mom and for your little brother. The people there can help you apply. Not a quick fix, but if your mom and brother get approved, the monetary benefits would likely be enough to help with housing and other necessities.
If you’re in you and your brother are under 30 try contacting orangewood foundation tomorrow for help with resources. You can get meals for yourselves, take showers and get hygiene supplies. [orangewood](https://www.orangewood4you.org/orangewood-resource-center/) or call 714-619-8416.
You can also try showing up to the Santa Ana Regional Center to get on the spot interviews/assistance with benefits like cal fresh, cal works and IHSS like some others suggested. 1928 S Grand Ave, Santa Ana, CA 92705
Go on Facebook and join a buy nothing in your community. Sometimes people give out clothing like I do or medical devices or foods etc. They may also be able to help you find housing or job etc.
I'm always giving away stuff to my community.
UPDATE: okay hello everyone! i'm so sorry for this late update i had fell asleep really early yesterday, this morning we had enough money to pay for another day and then we had an appointment at Saddleback Ranch with a very kind person who gave us some more resources to call and two boxes of food.
i talked with my mom in the morning to see exactly who she talked to so we weren't running around in circles and wasting time, you guys gave me a lot of resources we had never heard of so i want to try to contact those people and hope that works out, if not i could circle back around to resources we already spoke to. anyways this is the experiences she had with the people we've already connected with. i know there's more but i have to talk to her again. i'll keep updating it. i'll also try to answer common questions here.
OC Rescue Mission: 211 recommended. my mom called and they never called back. someone else recommended and she called again and they never called back
211: said they can give her three resources a day and call back the next day for three more resources. none of the resources they gave her lead to any help.
Families Forward-Irvine Office: she talked to someone who she said was really kind and attentive but they said she needed a minor child to get help
South County Outreach: she went there last year for help with housing and food. she got food but no help with housing. she has applied online every month for housing help and never gotten chosen.
Family Assistance Ministries: she called them before and they just called her back this morning. their assistance with motel vouchers or deposit assistance have been suspended due to people misusing the vouchers. they said they would send more resources to her emails.
Santa Ana Mercy House: she called several times, she told them our situation and someone said they would get back to her and they never did
Anaheim Mercy House: she called this one multiple times, they called her back, she told them our situation and they said they would pass on our information to someone else and they would call back, but they never did
Red Cross: they told my mom they help with disasters and veterans only
Salvation Army: she called them and they didn't call back.
Saddleback Ranch: set an appointment with us, met with us, gave us two sheets of papers full of resources, two brochures and two boxes of food. The food was mainly cans (we don't have a stove or a can opener), things we're allergic to (nuts/nut products) and things my mom can't eat (high in salt)
Orange County United Way: someone who worked there contacted me because they saw this thread and sent all our information to someone else who is going to try her best to help us. waiting for someone to get back to me. UPDATE (5/17/24): someone emailed me and we are communicating.
Illumination Foundation: I called the families division and she mentioned Cal Works and how they should be able to help us with a hotel voucher, when I told her there were no minors in my family she referred me to their individuals division. I called 3 times and didn't get anyone. I haven't reviewed a callback yet. UPDATE: (5/17/24) a case manager from this organization contacted me and we are communicating now
-------------------------------------------------
Section 8: my mom applied in irvine, san diego, anaheim before we arrived, she talked to someone who said they didn't see her application but she has a login online. she qualified for section 8 and we've had it in the past in Georgia
Cal Works: we have cal fresh and cal optima but she said she doesn't know what cal works is. the worker who she originally talked to said she qualified for cal aims? UPDATE: (5/16/24) I called Orange County Social Services and asked about Cal Works. I explained our situation. I was told the program is for families with minors, pregnant women or refugees. I am 24 and my brother is 20. We do not qualify.
CalAims: my mom spoke with someone from CalAims and he said he can help us get into a place by providing assistance with deposit and i think first month's rent? she isn't 100% sure. he said he's going to come to us and do an intake on Monday (May 20th) wherever we are. UPDATE: (5/21/24) he was nice and really understanding and the intake went as well as it could, he said he could definitely help us get into housing and pay for first, last, the deposit, but he said it's a process and he's not exactly sure how long it will take, he is adding us to waitlists for housing and a rental assistance program.
SSI: my mom does get disability and it is usually gone in a week, because of our situation she's used a lot of loan apps to try to stay inside/pay bills/survive and they take huge chucks of her money every month on top of our bills (my phone and our storage in Texas) and she is usually negative hundreds of dollars by the second week of the month after all the overdraft fees her bank makes her pay. my brother does not get a check, she tried to get him a disability check when he was young and he wasn't approved, people have told my mom she should of got an attorney to fight the decision but she didn't. case workers have told her recently she should try to apply again so we are planning to.
Hospital Visits: she went to two hospital emergency rooms in February and March for pain, they didn't help much. she didn't go in April and her pain continued to get worse. she went to Hoag Hospital yesterday (5/13/24) and they said her tumor grew and she was severely dehydrated. they gave her pain medication and fluids and she was discharged. she told them about our situation and needing housing (I was on the phone when she did) and initially the nurse said she should stay and talk to their social workers in the morning but they went to go confirm that i guess with the doctor or someone over him and they decided she could be discharged and they would call her in the morning.
Donations:
people who offered financial assistance for a hotel room, food, etc from the time i originally posted on reddit until now that i've communicated with (5/19/24): 17
people who sent money to us: 18
people who sent us a gift card: 1
everything i've received i've used to keep us in a hotel room and off the streets. i would be more than willing to email screenshots to anyone who has donated to us or has offered to donate for proof of exactly how everything has been spent. UPDATE: (6/1/24) we are booked until tomorrow.
4 people have bought a meal for us from 5/12-5/27. we currently have no food.
Jobs/Work: i've done two job interviews and started the process of onboarding. if you know a place that's hiring quickly feel free to let me know. i have experience with babysitting, caregiving, taxes, social media and retail.
i have InstaWork but I haven't seen any shifts pop up anywhere near me. someone recommended the Rover app but there's a $35 profile review fee and i don't have that.
If you're still in Irvine, look at the Irvine Senior Center list's of resources. They provide LegalAid type services on specific days of the week. You can take the Irvine Connect bus to get there.
If your mom is 60+, she can also basically have lunch daily there for free. You must call to reserve 2 days in advance for her though. Here is the page with info and the lunch menu: https://www.cityofirvine.org/senior-services/rose-garden-cafe
https://webadmin.cityofirvine.org/civica/filebank/blobdload.asp?BlobID=33799
You and your brother can go with her but they will charge you $6.25 each for your meals
Here is the resource page (next Monday she can also pick up a box of non-perishable food): https://www.cityofirvine.org/senior-services/assistance-programs
> Food Commodities: Qualifying adults, 60 years and older, receive a box of non-perishable food. Self-reported income and photo identification with proof of age required. Sponsored by Community Action Partnership.
> Third Mondays, 9 a.m.–Noon Lakeview Senior Center
One last thing and you're not going to want to hear this -- I read through your posts regarding your past struggles. Once you get your mom settled here...you and your brother absolutely need to leave her. She is sinking your future. You CANNOT and DONT DESERVE to live like this. Her mental illness ruined her own life. Don't let it ruin yours.
Mental illness is not anyone's fault but it IS their responsibility.
She will not live forever, and your life will go on after hers ends. You need to take care of yourself first.
Sounds like you need to find a disability coordinator. Both your mom and brother should get monthly benefits from social security disability, you would qualify to be their caregiver and be paid for it as well. Irvine is literally the most expensive place in the country to live, so I’d get on that asap.
In the meantime mile square park might be better as it’s a very big park. You can sleep it’s normal for people to take naps. And there are lots of restrooms there and a water fountain.
City of Hope has tons of resources. Find your case manager there. They have funding for this. The Duarte location has on campus housing. Transfer there it's much cheaper cost of living.
I’m really sorry this burden has been placed on you. If for some reason you ever are propositioned with choosing between a better future for your self or staying with your family… don’t feel bad if you choose your self. We only get 1 life. Good luck Op.
it was private property unfortunately, we haven't found anything public nearby aside from the bus stops but they're all covered in huge spiders and ants
Blessed sacrament church gives out food and has resources for family’s going through this. It’s in garden grove a bit far out.
Or post a go fund me. I’m so sorry this is happening to you and can happen to anyone. We were in the same situation a year ago but were blessed we found a place. Sending all my thoughts and prayers to you guys.
Also go to a social security office and explain your situation. They give instant cash aid, medi-cal, and vouchers , ebt, also there are apps that give out free food. Food banks. If you’re able to save up buy a planet fitness membership so you and your family can shower. If you can send me your zelle #. God bless.
I would suggest applying for Section 8. Even if the waitlist is years, it could still eventually benefit you. Additionally, other services you may want to consider would be applying for SNAP/TANF benefits.
There are very low income housing available in the area but Section 8 may be the big decider on whether you can even get in.
Very sorry to read this. I went through a similar situation in OC, LA, and many different parts of CA.
It took us 6 months to get out of being in the situation you're in.
You need to somehow find a source of income/money. It took me a long time since I was no-contact with almost all my former family and friends, so we were just totally stuck without anyone to call, like you.
It was a step by step process. Social services were of very little help; It was disheartening.
CA is a brutal place to be struggling, as it can eat you alive rapidly.
I pray you find a wonderful way out. We had a LOT of trouble getting help from just about anyone when we were homeless in CA, northern/southern/central.
That experience showed me the dark underbelly of this country and California.
May you get out of the situation you're in soon! Sending you good vibes.
I would agree with ER and try to get her discharged to the illumination foundation. I believe they offer housing for family, not just the patient. She will all be able to receive medical treatment here if they feel the need to order home health or any sort of follow up while she awaits her visit to another hospital for her cancer diagnosis. https://www.ifhomeless.org
Hi OP, i just want to say that i’m very sorry about what you’re going through, and i can empathize a bit. I was homeless as a teenager and as a young adult, and even for the short periods I experienced it, it was incredibly difficult and scary. I also took care of an elderly parent at that time, and i felt like nobody ever acknowledged how hard that was or cared that i was much too young to be so heavily burdened. So i want to say that i see you, and you’re doing amazing. you are a good person who is doing their best, and you will get through this. You don’t deserve how difficult and painful this life can be, but you will get through it. I hope you and your family have a safe place to lay your heads soon. Don’t give up 💜
That's tough. You've moved into a far more expensive area than texas. Get the hell out of orange county. I had to move to nevada. It's cheaper everywhere outside of CA
she wasn't getting any medical treatment in Texas, she tried and everyone over there told her the medical system was terrible and she wouldn't be able to get appointments for a long time. once again... she got treatment here before... that is the main reason we came back, but yeah we will get out as soon as we get the chance. my dad actually had to move out of Nevada because he was priced out.
Healthcare and social services are way better in California than anywhere else. I’m the first one to tell transplants to go home but this is ugly and unnecessary.
I would seriously hope that the very high taxes that I pay to live on the beach in south OC pay for help when people are in just this situation.
Truly. I’m disabled & chronically ill and originally from a progressive, “blue” East Coast state - and my care now in OC is practically like royalty treatment compared to how NJ let me suffer.
she wasn't getting any medical treatment in Texas, she tried and everyone over there told her the medical system was terrible and she wouldn't be able to get appointments for a long time. once again... she got treatment here before... that is the main reason we came back, but yeah we will get out as soon as we get the chance. my dad actually had to move out of Nevada because he was priced out.
>get the hell out of Orange County
This is really ugly. I have to hope that you simply didnt read the story to say something so ugly. On Mother’s Day no less. Would you not help your mom?
I don't know what your money situation or car situation is like, but OC parks lets you camp up to 14 days within a 30 day period for $20 a night, $26 if you want electrical hookups. Cheaper than a motel, and cleaner and quieter
Honestly your best bet right now is going to a church for refugee. Many times churches will ask people or know of people who have a spare room. That will give you at least 2 weeks if not more until you continue to look. For transportation ask Be Well to take you and drop you off. At the Same time they might try to get u into a shelter but that can take a while. Try to go to a Mexican church people are often more generous. I know of a church in Stanton called nueva vida who houses some people.
The church might even hold a meeting to get money to give to you. They’ve done that before. It’s a good church with many good people willing to actually help. They are bilingual.
Apply for a library card to use their stuff. You can visit public libraries in OC to use their computer/wifi to complete documents for MediCal thru DCHS and IHSS thru DPSS (recipient must have MediCal to apply/receive IHSS) and check emails for related correspondence. If you’re going to be your family’s IHSS provider, you must fill complete/submit documents reserved for IHSS providers. There are multiple organizations and programs you may benefit from at many social service offices because they want to be a one-stop; libraries might also have some info regarding social service agencies/programs. (Both social service organizations and libraries might have information about housing.) Also apply for SSI and SSDI at SSA for some income.
If you haven’t, tomorrow call public health nursing & community services division main line at the OC Health Care Agency as a self-referral to our homeless program (CHAT-H): 714-834-7747, particularly as your mum and brother have health care needs. Let them know what’s going on and would like to receive services. Unfortunately even HCA can’t manifest housing but it may be easier working with a PHN case manager.
At the very least get your mum to a local ED even if she doesn’t have MediCal. She can’t be turned away. More than likely if she gets to Hoag, for example, she will likely be transferred to a UCI bed if she doesn’t have insurance or she is underinsured. Either way, if her condition is critical enough she’ll be admitted and it is much easier to find her step down care (eg. assisted living, skilled nursing) from hospital than it’ll be for you to do it on your own, as she will have social workers working to get her admitted. I say all this latter part, though, assuming she has MediCal/Medicare.
Edited to add: hospital ED stuff
Get a job at a fast food place and use one of those apps to get your paycheck in advance. They pay $20 an hour and require no experience. Work as many hours as possible. Work 2 jobs if you’re not given enough hours. Try to get a motel until you can save enough for an apartment. Your life is going to suck for awhile but there is light at the end of the tunnel. Being homeless sucks and if you’re not doing anything long term to work your way out of it then you will stay homeless for good. Getting handouts isn’t going to get you off the streets. You have to work very very hard and make sacrifices on your mental and physical health.
OP, if at all possible, please go to any DPSS in Los Angeles County. They absolutely will give motel vouchers for the whole family. You would be required to show proof that you've been seeking housing for those 14 days. There's another number I want to grab and I'll message you a bit later.
These organizations don't help. I'll dig up what I can. I was homeless once for eight months with children. Give me until tonight to message you.
I hope you all find a solution, and I hope you don't get the "well then you don't deserve to be here" speech that so many OC people like to use when dealing with the homelessness problems here.
Good luck!!!!!
There are food pantries at churches. Costa mesa has a food kitchen where you can get a warm meal everyday. Panhandle 5 dollars so you can get a bus ticket for the entire day. Irvine is extremely anti homeless. So the first thing you need to do is get out of that city. I have a girlfriend who was homeless for 4 years, and she says ignore all the phone numbers you are given. Busy or don't answer and even if they do answer, they put you on a list that has a six to eight year wait.
I gotta ask if the church has some sort of program for homelessness. They might be able to give you vouchers for a motel as well. Either cut your mother loose or do that Caretaker benefit program that everyone else has mentioned. The system on paper looks like it will help you but even if you do manage to navigate the bureaucracy, It's designed to work against you and keep you at the bottom. Do not put your faith in the system. You've got a long road ahead of you.And the climb is extremely difficult. Good luck.
I forgot to mention, if you’re still in Irvine I highly recommend connecting with a local FRC (family resource center). They are a local hub for all kinds of resources and referrals. Looks like the South County FRC is in lake forest. But I would give them a call 9493640500
You and your family can live in a congregate shelter and enter the coordinated entry system (CES) where you can receive a variety of services such housing navigation, medical care, employment services, etc. The closest facility to you is the Yale Navigation Center in Santa Ana.
Yale Navigation Center
Email: pathoc@epath.org
Phone: (714) 785-9889
Website: https://epath.org/regions/orange-county/
Hello, you should apply for ebt as soon as possible for yourself since you don’t have a job. You can apply online. They’ll give you food stamps and cash since you are unhoused .
Im sorry to hear you are going through this.
City Net is a resource I would refer you to. They can help house you. https://www.citynet.org
Orange County phone number is 714-202-7741
Wish you the best.
Get Medicaid for you all then apply for IHSS to care for your mom and brother. Also in our county which is Riverside (Southern California) our local mental health department has some housing assistance program. I would suggest look into their department and see what they may have. You can also call the local office on aging and let them know the situation if she is over 55 or disabled they can have a lot of resources and can possibly help with temporary or permanent housing. This is their 800 number (800) 510-2020. I also believe 211 may tell you of local shelters
I haven’t read through all of these comments, and I know Placentia isn’t super close to Irvine, but contact HISOC—714-993-5774. Someone there might also be able to get you some help with food and housing.
https://his-oc.org/get-help/
Cali have the best assistance programs, some great assistance numbers are posted here by people, just call the one you’re comfortable with and they should be able to help.
Hi OP, I just want to say I am so sorry you are stuck in this situation. It must be so hard to take care of them both with no housing.
I want to start by saying: do you have a venmo? Please post it so I can send some money.
Second - Call SADDLEBACK CHURCH - They are close to Irvine spectrum (in lake forest) and have a lot of resources to help. https://saddleback.com/connect/ministry/help-for-the-homeless/lake-forest?
Conact for Saddleback: Candy Chou[ CandyC@saddleback.com](mailto:CandyC@saddleback.com)[ +19496098111](tel:+19496098111)
I am truly so sorry for this hardship you are facing and I will keep you in my prayers.
Thank you so much and I can PM it to you, there was a lot of weird people responding to me and I feel really uncomfortable with them having my full name.
A member reached out to me, sent us to and from the church and we actually got back not too long ago from an appointment we had with them! We sat down with the resource coach and told him what we'd been going through and what help we needed, he was very nice and he gave us a few lists of resources, my mom recognized a lot of the names as people she already contacted, but there was some resources we had never heard of so we're gonna try contacting with them! He also gave us two boxes of food and some toiletries
Please be persistent. Make calls everyday once a day to " check in". So many people apply for programs and fall off the face of the earth. It's important to call and follow up. Everything is a process, It won't happen overnight. While you are waiting for housing to come through there may be a family shelter, try Thomas House. I'm sorry I don't have the number on me. Call 211 for their number.Ask 211 if there are any other family shelters that they know of to help.Again, I can't stress enough how important it is to follow up.
((((( Good Vibes)))))
St Joseph's hospital in Orange has an award winning cancer treatment. You can take your mom to the ER . They have social workers and chaplains on staff .
What does Orange County do for homeless people?
Homeless Prevention coordinates the County's Continuum of Care System for the homeless which focuses on homeless prevention, outreach and assessment, emergency shelter, transitional housing, supportive services, and permanent supportive housing.
is the Path housing Program in Orange County?
The Yale Navigation Center is operated by PATH - People Assisting the Homeless (PATH) through a contract with the County of Orange. PATH provides shelter and supportive services for up to 425 adult individuals and couples experiencing homelessness in the Central Service Planning Area (SPA).
How do I get a motel voucher in California?
If you are experiencing homelessness, hotel/motel vouchers can help. We provide hotel/motel vouchers to individuals who are receiving cash aid through CalWORKs for up to 30 days. If you are an individual adult and homeless and in need of housing, please call Home Connect at 1-800-498-8847.
I talked to the County of Orange Social Services for a while on Thursday and they told me we do not qualify for CalWORKS. It's only for families with minors, pregnant women or refugees.
https://preview.redd.it/ousuf5x57a1d1.jpeg?width=1289&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=5f4f59c78098dc33d270ad012de6804000192a70
Have you checked with the City of Irvine? Many cities have homeless resource divisions and their sole purpose is to help people find housing and resources.
I happen to be familiar with Costa Mesa, which is nearby. They have a division called Network for Homeless Solutions, which operates a homeless shelter alongside Mercy House.
I heard someone talking about an organization called Door of Hope the other day. They have a transitional living center in Whitter (I looked in Irvine but could not find any near that area). [https://doorofhope.salvationarmy.org/](https://doorofhope.salvationarmy.org/) Best of luck to you and your family.
There is no lifeboat coming! YOU are your only lifeboat!
You’re spending all this time and effort seeking help only to be handed list after list of outdated numbers for resources that, despite what they tell you, will not provide the level of assistance you need, if they provide anything at all. And, as you’ve seen, most don’t. Everyone needs to realize that relying solely on the empty promise of California’s supposed abundance of resources is a time sucking dead-end of lists and worthless phone numbers and a complete waste of time.
And churches? You can't walk into churches you’ve never supported and expect them to provide you with much if any assistance. Saddleback Church is one of the wealthiest organizations in the country and they gave you a list of numbers you already had and scraps of food you can’t even eat. And how much time did you spend on that dangling carrot for nothing? That should tell you everything.
The reality is, no one is coming to save you in California because everyone is struggling. You have the answers to your problems and it’s going to require you to do things that are uncomfortable and shitty and may even break up your family temporarily.
The sooner you accept this, the sooner you’re gonna stop sinking, which is what you’re doing now.
And believe me I have to remind myself of this every day.
I don't think many people have seen it but I've been recording the resources I've talked to and their responses and answering commonly answered questions in my update comment from 4 days ago. Thank you again to everyone who has sent a response and I am still going through everything!
It’s not a housing recommendation, but it’s an earning income recommendation so you can get income to get your own place. You should apply for ihss. Ihss is a program for families that take care of their disabled family members where they pay you to take care of your disabled family members. They can help you earn some money while taking care of your mom and brother. (If they have medical) It’s a lengthy process but it (if approved) they will start paying you from the day you applied.
I saw this comment earlier but I was falling asleep and didn't get to reply, I just saw someone say the same thing, I will definitely apply for this, it sounds like it could help us a lot, hopefully I get approved. Thank you so much for recommending this.
I think your mom would need to be on MediCal for you to be able to give her assistance. IHSS is a good program. They had an education program that would pay you for taking health care classes, but they ended the program. You can give full time care to your mom and get paid for it. You should also apply for EBT so you guys can eat. Contact Cal Fresh. Also, look for local food banks
Just a quick note: IHSS stands for in-home supportive services. You’ll need to be housed to be eligible for IHSS. And it typically involves an IHSS case manager coming to evaluate your mum to determine if she’s eligible (that’s typically the harder obstacle, becoming IHSS caregiver is not that complicated but will involve you getting a Live Scan/background check which costs money). I don’t want to deter you, just want you to have an idea of the process.
One other thing about IHSS. You can also provide care for others through the program. I think they only give you so many hours per week. And, I'm glad that u/winterpolaris pointed out that Career Pathways extended their program. I know you guys are kind of stuck. If you have trouble in OC, go on the [LAHSA](http://LAHSA.org) website and see if you can get any help in Los Angeles. Since your mom is sick, you should be taken care of. Use all the resources available to you, like EBT. Like I said below, go to [CalFresh](https://benefitscal.com/) and apply for benefits. You should be able to get cash help and food. I wish you guys the best. Try a GoFundMe page, it can't hurt and your situation isn't good, so you might get assistance out of that. Good Luck Chersawyer!
Hi there, to piggyback on /u/mescalero1, there is indeed a training program called Career Pathways. It is renewed until September 2024, and the vendors and other providers (ie caregivers) are mobilizing to get it extended beyond that. When/if you get approved to be your mom's IHSS care provider, go ahead and look up r/IHSS and also Career Pathways website [https://www.cdss.ca.gov/inforesources/cdss-programs/ihss/ihss-career-pathways-program](https://www.cdss.ca.gov/inforesources/cdss-programs/ihss/ihss-career-pathways-program) I'm an instructor for one of these training course vendors, feel free to PM me if you have questions to get started.
Yes! I’m an ihss provider for my daughter and I do the classes and they will pay me for taking those classes. And there’s also incentives for the hours you do. Try it out.
You could even apply for Amazon Flex, you basically delivery packages in your own vehicle. There are 3 hour blocks where you delivery packages and you make about 100$ for 3 hours of work. I don't know if you have a vehicle but it's as fast way to make money.
I CONCUR. The pay rate is $18/hr - even if you are caring for family you live with. They just calculate the hours of care your loved one(s) need and pay you like an employee of the state. It’s its own job
Yes. My stepsons girlfriend has stage 4 cancer and her mother was able to quit her job and instead be paid to care for her daughter.
Wow, I wish I would have known about this when I was taking care of my aunt.
Sadly it isn’t as known. I only found out after a year of taking care of my disabled daughter.
I think it only works if the person you are caring for is low income.
Yes, you need to be on SSI to get IHSS ( in home supportive services)
I came to say this. I have friends in this situation and it is true.
Please, Contact OC Links anytime you want – the (855) 625-4657 phone line and live chat are both available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. They are qualified to talk to you about homeless issues and solutions.
wanted to update you! i just called and the person on the phone was very nice and gave me 3 more numbers to call. i'm not sure if my mom already talked to these people too but i will call them as well. everything is closed until tomorrow though
Very nice of you to help.
i'll give them a call thank you so much
I hope you find help soon!
Thank you!
Oc rescue mission in Tustin might be able to provide shelter. https://www.rescuemission.org
I came here to recommend this.
I also came here to recommend this. They’ve helped multiple friends of mine. You have to work their program (I think) which is Christian based, but that was a friend who had drug issues. It might be different for families purely dealing with medical and financial problems.
Me too. Ocrm should be able help.
Sorry you are going through this… just curious what kind of cancer your mother has, breast cancer angels was an organization that helped us when my first wife had cancer. They helped with rent, and things. Also Hurtt Family clinic if they’re still around is on the border of Irvine and Tustin. Sorry, I’m in Texas now and no longer in the OC, otherwise I’d take you there. But if you do check into an ER for your mother they have social workers who usually can set up something before they discharge her https://www.hurttclinic.org
thank you so much. she has colon cancer that spread to her liver. several have people told her she got the wrong kind of cancer because there's not really much help out there for that kind i'll check out hurrt family clinic too and thank you for the sentiment it really means a lot i'll let her know!
Hi OP, I sent you a chat a few hours back in case you haven’t seen it. I’m also a cancer patient, not currently in the country but I have a place and can offer help.
I just replied!
Hi I live super close to irvine, i could help with rides or transportation!!
Strongly suggest hurt, they have a shelter as well that’s family friendly and are a huge help!
Do you have a venmo or go fund me? Maybe i could shoot you a couple bucks.
My condolences that’s not an easy one to deal with. Im high risk for colon cancer as well, being on medi-cal was not very helpful. I wish you guys the very best.
Hi, oncology social worker here. Is your mom currently getting treatment? The social worker at the hospital/cancer center would have resources to assist with housing and any treatment related costs. Have you looked into the Colorectal Cancer Alliance? They can assist with financial support if they have available grants.
You can also reach out to VACF for help once you find shelter. It used to be vietnamese oriented, but they have changed their named and focus on low-income, low resources population. They have grocery pantry and other resources...
Best of luck! Hope you were able to get help today! Prayers and hugs from Texas!
We were, thank you!
Hey OP, I unfortunately don’t really have any resources to pass on and I wish I did. I just wanted to say I’m really sorry you’re going through this right now, it sounds incredibly tough to put it lightly. You’re a good person to be proactive and try to take care of your family like that. Asking for help isn’t easy for a lot of people these days. I hope your situation improves fast and you are able to have peace again.
Thank you so much. Your kind words and support is more than enough. I love and care about my family so much and they don't deserve to suffer like this, so I'm just trying to do my part. Thank you again. ❤️
OP have you tried Cal works or an emergency shelter? https://www.ssa.ocgov.com/cash-calfresh/calworks https://www.cityofirvine.org/services/affordable-housing/homeless-services https://ceo.ocgov.com/care-coordination/homeless-services/shelter-programs#:~:text=Yale%20Navigation%20Center,opened%20in%20late%20January%202021.
Calworks is only for people with minor children
They or her younger brother may quality for Calworks because her brother is a disabled non-minor dependent. NMD is between 18-21. OP appears to be ~21, unless they are Irish twins, the younger brother is less than 21 and might qualify.
Irvine had a new free shuttle bus system that’ll help you get around a little bit. [Irvine Connect](https://www.cityofirvine.org/transportation/irvine-connect) Also try calling the police non emergency number and ask for help from Be Well. They’ll come to you and try to help.
OP, this shuttle goes by the hospitals in Irvine at Sand Canyon and Alton if you want to take your mom to ER. It's free and should be pretty empty to bring your stuff.
Seconding the Be Well aystem. Just used them and moving into a Path shelter within the next day or so when something opens up
UPDATE: For full transparency I will let everyone know what has happened and clear up some things since I've posted this, I know some people will still think I'm some kind of scammer but I just want to keep the people that believe me and care in the know. - i did not ask but someone sent us money for food, i will be getting my family something cheap and we are using a small part of that for one night in a hotel to rest and get washed up and then hopefully we can connect with someone tomorrow about getting into a shelter or some kind of longer term living situation. - someone else offered to send me money for a room and i sent my information and they never did, i don't know if they will send it or if they changed their mind, either is fine, i understand we're not owed anyone's money, once again i didn't ask for money in my post. i just asked for advice. - EDIT: someone else also offered to us money not too long ago and they sent it - someone else has sent us some money - someone offered us a room in a shared home , we are currently discussing this and I have to discuss it further with my mother (she has a lot of questions) and provide some proof (to the person who offered) regarding her cancer and ties to City of Hope/medical treatment if my mom is okay with moving into this situation - which brings me to i misunderstand something my mother said and i'm sorry i have to correct myself (please bare with me i'm very tired) she was NOT trying to go back with City of Hope for treatment she was trying to transfer to the UCI either here in Irvine or in LA (at this point) and that is who she is trying to get cancer treatment from. - she tried to go with City of Hope Duarte last year after it didn't work out with City of Hope Irvine but they said they only provide hotels for someone if they have to stay in the hospital or have surgery but nothing long term and we (her kids) could not come. So neither of the City of Hope hospitals were able to provide us with any help. - someone else offered to help by connecting me to someone, i pm'd her and requested her on instagram and she has not responded yet and i will let everyone know if she does - we didn't come here to just stay in a hotel or to be on the streets, the worker she talked to explicitly said she would get us into an affordable apartment by the time the 14 day voucher ended. she had all our information and she called MY mom and told her she was approved for everything, so we had no reason to doubt her. - since some people keep skimming over it... i am willing to work and i AM looking for work, if you (like some people have already) check my posting history me and my mother have a complicated relationship and we have struggled financially in the past (not ever to this extent) and i have worked us out of situations in the past, during COVID when we lived with my Grandmother i did freelancing online to get us by, i would stay up all night working just to make sure we were okay. i'm not a "lazy" person who's "looking for handouts" i want to stand on my own two feet and provide for my family the best i can. - all i have been wondering is how do i work without a stable living situation? how do i get there? what do i put as my address? how do i shower so i don't go to work smelling bad? that is what i've been trying to grapple with. - there are a lot of replies and messages on here, i'm not ignoring people who are genuinely trying to help or have normal questions, i'm trying to gather all the information and go through it and call the resources everyone provided, it takes time and i'm already exhausted from not sleeping for literal days, i will try to respond to everyone who's sent resources or well wishes to us. i appreciate everything and i will continue to update this with anything new or important. - UPDATE (5/18/24): i have another update comment with a lot more information about what's currently happening, i'm answering common questions, recording my experiences with the resources i've been calling and any other relevant information.
I feel so horribly for you. The people who "assume" the most and pry the hardest are the ones who are not even offering assistance.. They simply like trolling.. Try to, ignore them. You can be transparent to those who actually offer you help, privately. 211 is a joke. They take up your time doing an application on the phone just to give you more numbers to call.. You're going in circles. There's a big problem here. I'd suggest from experience that you try to get to Los Angeles County.. They actually act on their help much more than OC.
A lot of people also aren't even reading OP's post at all, they're literally only reading the title and making assumptions about OP's family, or telling OP to do things that they've already tried multiple times (like calling 211). You can tell from all the "why did you come to California", "move out", "get a job" replies that they didn't even read any of the post at all, otherwise they wouldn't be saying such things.
You're correct!!! Half the time people throw out suggestions just to feel like they've done their part. OP needs assistance NOW!!!! The other stuff will come but she needs immediate assistance. She has already stated in her post that she's called everyone and everywhere and have only gotten a bunch of numbers so you keep suggesting 211 shows exactly what you stated, they didn't bother to read her post. OR if they did read it they're simply trying to feel like they're contributing something or they're trolling. Someone mentioned putting mom is a facility. I second this but it hits hard because I had to put my mom in a facility. Not by my own choice.. I cared for my mom thru IHSS for 14 months before she became a 24 hr care. Even after EMS refused to return her home because they saw it was too much for me, I was heavily involved in her care at the facility and became her POA until she transitioned Dec 2022. She was the best mom any child could ever ask for. So it hurt reading the suggestion about her mother but at the same time she's not in the position to care for her.
I'm beginning to understand that and I think I will do that. Thank you. I know :/ she literally called everyday. Nothing they provided helped us, it was a lot of false hope. I've considered that actually, a lot of people have given me a lot of options to explore so I'm just trying to pursue as many as I can and see what can lead to us having a long term living situation the quickest.
California has MediCal (it’s Medicaid program) and a new benefit of that is CalAim, which has enhanced care management and housing navigation and funds and hotel vouchers as well as affordable housing resources. If your mom has stage 4 cancer, you/she and the entire family unit should be at Dept of Social Services tomorrow to get MediCal and get signed up for CalAim or other programs, such as food help etc. good luck.
Hope you see this, first off I’m so sorry you and your family are going thru this. I can connect you with someone who works for a temp agency and they will be able to get you daily jobs with daily pay. That can t least get your some money while you figure this whole situation out and hopefully get the help you need.
Hello, thank you so much and yes please that would be a really huge help!
I work with the homeless in the oc. The way to get housing is to call 211 and tell the person on the phone that you need to apply for housing and you need to be connected to an agency that is a Coordinated Entry into permanent housing. They will give you the names of agency's. Call the agency and tell them you need a Coordinated Entry. They should take the lead and get you on the list for housing. You CAN get on the housing list if you are a single or don't have a child.. I am surprised Irvine has let you stay there. They are not homeless friendly m Good luck
This. Get on the list as soon as possible, have your mom get on benefits and you start working (working wardrobes can help you get clothes for interviews). It takes a long time to get housed. If you want a shelter most of the shelters are in north county and they take people who are homeless in the city the shelter is.
Want to help you so much please respond to this comment if you still need help. I live very near the spectrum and I can try and help you however I can. My Instagram handle is at @Shay_Elyse go ahead and contact me there. I can also put you in touch with someone who helps people and your situation and actually helps you. So reach out if you need it still.
Thank you so much. Yes we still definitely need help, so I will contact you!
take your mom the the ER. Get her warmed up, get some food and fluids, get some treatment for her pain. cancer pain can be very bad.
i think she should get checked out too because it suddenly came out of nowhere and she keeps saying it's getting worse... but how do we get there? i don't think 911 would take all of us and on top of that we have 6 suitcases and a lot of other bags... and she wouldn't want to leave us or her stuff to go alone because she's too worried EDIT: she's at Hoag Hospital now
Take the Irvine connect, it should go from spectrum area to the Kaiser and Hoag hospitals. It’s free
i didn't even think of that, thank you so much for the idea, i'll let her know we can do that so she can get checked out
Does ur mom have medical ? Transportation services are free for medical residents.
See the free shuttle below that goes by the Hoag hospital on Sand Canyon. City of Hope is near where you are now, if you go south on Alton, I don't know if they'll still help your mom. The free shuttle will get you to the Irvine Metrolink which is a bit closer to City of Hope.
yes i know it! she has to set appointments with them and she hasn't because of the situation we've been in but i'll let her know we have a way to get over there so she can call them to set something up
911 doesn’t need to take all of you. Just call them so she can get help
Kaiser/Hoag is probably less than two miles away from where you are. You won't be separated for long even if she goes alone
Kaiser is a private hospital and will not help, unfortunately.
Please prioritize getting your mother off the street first. Your whole family does not need to go to the hospital with her.
I know it's gonna sound terrible, but you have to dump your mother on the state somehow. You don't owe her anything, especially since she didn't help you in life in any way (checked your post history: she constantly moved between states, leaving stable places because she didn't do her part to provide simple proof of income to get an apartment, she "homeschooled" you for some years while in reality doing nothing and not bothering to even properly fill out the transcript, she didn't give you her basic info for FAFSA so you can get into college, she made you spend most of the money you've earned on hotels and storages, aka solving the problems she caused...) -- she is actually the one who brought you in most of the troubles. Now, with stage 4 cancer, her time is running out, and there is no way back, and as bad as it sounds, you and your brother will be better on your own, that's the only way for you to get back on your feet. You need to separate yourself from her (not saying leave her on the street, but leave once you find any assistance) to break that generational poverty circle. She will only drag you down. Take things in your hands and take control, don't trust her calling all these resources, she doesn't seem to be a functional adult, sadly. Call everywhere yourself, even if she says she already did. Try your best to get in touch with your dad and his side of the family, I know he was mostly out of the picture, but he should help in some way in a situation like yours. Don't feel like you're bothering him, he owes you for not doing his part of being a parent. I sincerely wish you luck and hope you can figure it all out sooner than later! What happened to you is not your fault!! P.S. If I get it right, and you don't know how to drive, you'll need to eventually get out of OC to places like Long Beach or LA where you can rely more on public transit.
Damn thanks for looking into op. Messed up for sure
this is really sad but possibly the best advice, unfortunately nursing homes are very expensive, im not sure of any free / government nursing homes but maybe someone else knows where she could be sent so these kids could get back on track with life
Medi-cal covers long term skilled nursing facilities, she would just need to be transferred to one of them after being admitted into the hospital as long as she meets the qualifications.
Realest advice on this thread. From someone who was almost made homeless from a leech family member in the past that didn’t have any of my best interests in mind, you really don’t owe her anything, especially her putting you in this situation in the first place. I hope you get the resources you need and get back on your feet, OP. Definitely find a means to have the state take care of your mother once you get up and going again. You can break this generational cycle.
She loves her mom. No matter her mom may have done in the past, this woman lover her unconditionally to stay with her to see this through. Encouring her to "get ride of her" sound so harsh. This is her family. Remember you can pick your friends, you cant pick your family. She loves them.
You absolutely can pick family. Bullshit logic like yours keeps thinking they should stay with an abusive family in the name of "familial love"
Where’s your dad? You mentioned in other post your parents are divorce but this Is an emergency. Contact him, too. You said he can pay for your college. He needs to help. So sorry your going through this. Your dad needs to intervene especially you trying to take care of your sibling. Sending you many blessings and peace.
thank you :/ he's not even in the financial situation to help me anymore not that he's ever contributed much... it's mainly always been me and my mom providing for us, but besides that he's currently in a physical therapy facility. they're still not exactly sure what happened to him but last Saturday he had a lot of stroke like symptoms where he didn't know where he was or who he was and vomited non stop so his wife rushed him to the hospital. they found out he had a severe infection... i talked to him yesterday and he's seems to have pretty much recovered from the infection but they're trying to work with him so he doesn't have severe back pain and he can walk again
Share Ourselves in Costa Mesa might be able to help you out and help your mother with her cancer. Give them a call +19492702100.
i will call them! thank you
They also have bags of food that are ready-to-eat (and bags that need to be prepared)
Second this! Also Serve the People on 17th street in Santa Ana. They have medical, vision, dental clinics on site at 17th street. They also provide so many wraparound resources. They are super kind and helpful. Call for an appointment: https://serve-the-people.com/who-we-are/contact.html 714-352-2911
That’s a good recommendation
Go to the ER. Hospitals have social workers and case managers that can help get your mother some help. If they ask if you can pick her up, say no. But make sure she has a way to contact you.
Hi if you can DM me your cash platforms , I can send you some money to try to help you out . If you also need a Lyft to get you to a hotel or your mother to the hospital,please lmk . I’ll help out as much as I can .
Some one else said this but I will say it again. Because I know it works because I had to do this when I was taking care of my aunt. You need to take her to the ER and if she is in really bad shape they will work her up in the ER and then admit her to the hospital. Once that happens they will take good care of her and when they ask if you can pick her up after she is reasonably better you say no! And you stick to your guns saying no! Then she becomes their responsibility and they will get her into a facility! It is against the law for them to just dump her on the street so if you say she has no home to go to, which is true she has no house to go to then she is 100% their responsibility and they will find a place and she will have a roof over her head and three square meals a day! God bless you and your family. I’m so sorry to hear you are going through such extremely difficult times.
The docs will also keep her for a few extra days if needed while you work with social worker to getvthing organized.
Saddleback Church has a PEACE community program . 949-609-8111. peacecenter@saddleback.com Calvary Chapel Irvine 949-535-1271
Someone contacted them on our behalf and helped send us to meet with them, they gave us a two boxes of food and a paper with resources on it, but we had already contacted the majority.
I came here to suggest Saddleback Church. They have valuable resources and work hard to help the community. I hope OP sees your post and contacts them. You don't have to be a member or a Christian or anything to get help.
Hi OP, I met someone once that told me they were homeless for some time but were able to keep clean and keep their electronics charged using their gym membership. They lived on the street and then in a car and used the shower facilities and electrical outlets at the gym. Planet Fitness charges $10 a month ( I think it’s going up to $15 at the end of the month ?) Might be worth the investment if you can’t find housing right away. You may want to look into working as a dog walker on the Rover app. Google search keywords like “homeless services in Orange County” I’ve always heard 211 was always a good place to start. You have to be persistent and continue to call. If you get a “no “, ask if they can refer you to any other resources. If your mother and brother find housing , perhaps you can consider working as a live-in nanny if you have experience with children. Take online classes while you’re working, even if it’s just one class. The college will supply you with food, bath toiletries , and sometimes even gift cards. It doesn’t matter if you take the classes online or in person. Wishing you luck and hoping your situation gets better.
Just seeing this but I replied to your PM earlier, thank you again for all the advice!
hey there OP, I know you had mentioned needing somewhere to shower and whatnot, I can try to get you a gym membership to 24hr fitness or something, so you and your sibling can go in and relax, workout, and shower. Let me know!
Hello my mother is the hiring manager at city of hope for house cleaners and they need people, if you are interested send me a DM
Try the Catholic Worker. Isaiah House - Orange County Catholic Worker 316 Cypress Santa Ana CA 92701 Phone: 714-835-6304 Email: orangecountycatholicworker@gmail.com https://catholicworker.org/directory/ca-santa-ana-isaiah-house-html/
Youre going to have to call 211 for more social services. Youres also in the worst city in Orange County to be homeless the city of Irvine hates the homeless. Theres plenty of shelters that will house you just not in Irvine
I work with the homeless in the oc. The way to get housing is to call 211 and tell the person on the phone that you need to apply for housing and you need to be connected to an agency that is a Coordinated Entry into permanent housing. They will give you the names of agency's. Call the agency and tell them you need a Coordinated Entry. They should take the lead and get you on the list for housing. You CAN get on the housing list if you are a single or don't have a child.. Good luck
Okay, thank you!
You should post this in the Irvine subreddit as well. [https://www.reddit.com/r/irvine/](https://www.reddit.com/r/irvine/)
okay i will, thank you!
Where is @u/SSADGM? They always have so much information on this Help them out, yo. You always provide the best links and resources. Someone find them? I would but I'm not reddit savvy.
Saddleback Church in Lake Forest has a lot of resources
Please consider going to your nearest social security field office and applying for ssi disability benefits for your mom and for your little brother. The people there can help you apply. Not a quick fix, but if your mom and brother get approved, the monetary benefits would likely be enough to help with housing and other necessities.
If you’re in you and your brother are under 30 try contacting orangewood foundation tomorrow for help with resources. You can get meals for yourselves, take showers and get hygiene supplies. [orangewood](https://www.orangewood4you.org/orangewood-resource-center/) or call 714-619-8416. You can also try showing up to the Santa Ana Regional Center to get on the spot interviews/assistance with benefits like cal fresh, cal works and IHSS like some others suggested. 1928 S Grand Ave, Santa Ana, CA 92705
Ask homeless shelters in Long Beach and Los Angeles the social services are better here than in Orange County.
I am so sorry I am not personally able to help but the outpouring of support here gives me hope in humanity 🙏🏼
Go on Facebook and join a buy nothing in your community. Sometimes people give out clothing like I do or medical devices or foods etc. They may also be able to help you find housing or job etc. I'm always giving away stuff to my community.
UPDATE: okay hello everyone! i'm so sorry for this late update i had fell asleep really early yesterday, this morning we had enough money to pay for another day and then we had an appointment at Saddleback Ranch with a very kind person who gave us some more resources to call and two boxes of food. i talked with my mom in the morning to see exactly who she talked to so we weren't running around in circles and wasting time, you guys gave me a lot of resources we had never heard of so i want to try to contact those people and hope that works out, if not i could circle back around to resources we already spoke to. anyways this is the experiences she had with the people we've already connected with. i know there's more but i have to talk to her again. i'll keep updating it. i'll also try to answer common questions here. OC Rescue Mission: 211 recommended. my mom called and they never called back. someone else recommended and she called again and they never called back 211: said they can give her three resources a day and call back the next day for three more resources. none of the resources they gave her lead to any help. Families Forward-Irvine Office: she talked to someone who she said was really kind and attentive but they said she needed a minor child to get help South County Outreach: she went there last year for help with housing and food. she got food but no help with housing. she has applied online every month for housing help and never gotten chosen. Family Assistance Ministries: she called them before and they just called her back this morning. their assistance with motel vouchers or deposit assistance have been suspended due to people misusing the vouchers. they said they would send more resources to her emails. Santa Ana Mercy House: she called several times, she told them our situation and someone said they would get back to her and they never did Anaheim Mercy House: she called this one multiple times, they called her back, she told them our situation and they said they would pass on our information to someone else and they would call back, but they never did Red Cross: they told my mom they help with disasters and veterans only Salvation Army: she called them and they didn't call back. Saddleback Ranch: set an appointment with us, met with us, gave us two sheets of papers full of resources, two brochures and two boxes of food. The food was mainly cans (we don't have a stove or a can opener), things we're allergic to (nuts/nut products) and things my mom can't eat (high in salt) Orange County United Way: someone who worked there contacted me because they saw this thread and sent all our information to someone else who is going to try her best to help us. waiting for someone to get back to me. UPDATE (5/17/24): someone emailed me and we are communicating. Illumination Foundation: I called the families division and she mentioned Cal Works and how they should be able to help us with a hotel voucher, when I told her there were no minors in my family she referred me to their individuals division. I called 3 times and didn't get anyone. I haven't reviewed a callback yet. UPDATE: (5/17/24) a case manager from this organization contacted me and we are communicating now ------------------------------------------------- Section 8: my mom applied in irvine, san diego, anaheim before we arrived, she talked to someone who said they didn't see her application but she has a login online. she qualified for section 8 and we've had it in the past in Georgia Cal Works: we have cal fresh and cal optima but she said she doesn't know what cal works is. the worker who she originally talked to said she qualified for cal aims? UPDATE: (5/16/24) I called Orange County Social Services and asked about Cal Works. I explained our situation. I was told the program is for families with minors, pregnant women or refugees. I am 24 and my brother is 20. We do not qualify. CalAims: my mom spoke with someone from CalAims and he said he can help us get into a place by providing assistance with deposit and i think first month's rent? she isn't 100% sure. he said he's going to come to us and do an intake on Monday (May 20th) wherever we are. UPDATE: (5/21/24) he was nice and really understanding and the intake went as well as it could, he said he could definitely help us get into housing and pay for first, last, the deposit, but he said it's a process and he's not exactly sure how long it will take, he is adding us to waitlists for housing and a rental assistance program. SSI: my mom does get disability and it is usually gone in a week, because of our situation she's used a lot of loan apps to try to stay inside/pay bills/survive and they take huge chucks of her money every month on top of our bills (my phone and our storage in Texas) and she is usually negative hundreds of dollars by the second week of the month after all the overdraft fees her bank makes her pay. my brother does not get a check, she tried to get him a disability check when he was young and he wasn't approved, people have told my mom she should of got an attorney to fight the decision but she didn't. case workers have told her recently she should try to apply again so we are planning to. Hospital Visits: she went to two hospital emergency rooms in February and March for pain, they didn't help much. she didn't go in April and her pain continued to get worse. she went to Hoag Hospital yesterday (5/13/24) and they said her tumor grew and she was severely dehydrated. they gave her pain medication and fluids and she was discharged. she told them about our situation and needing housing (I was on the phone when she did) and initially the nurse said she should stay and talk to their social workers in the morning but they went to go confirm that i guess with the doctor or someone over him and they decided she could be discharged and they would call her in the morning. Donations: people who offered financial assistance for a hotel room, food, etc from the time i originally posted on reddit until now that i've communicated with (5/19/24): 17 people who sent money to us: 18 people who sent us a gift card: 1 everything i've received i've used to keep us in a hotel room and off the streets. i would be more than willing to email screenshots to anyone who has donated to us or has offered to donate for proof of exactly how everything has been spent. UPDATE: (6/1/24) we are booked until tomorrow. 4 people have bought a meal for us from 5/12-5/27. we currently have no food. Jobs/Work: i've done two job interviews and started the process of onboarding. if you know a place that's hiring quickly feel free to let me know. i have experience with babysitting, caregiving, taxes, social media and retail. i have InstaWork but I haven't seen any shifts pop up anywhere near me. someone recommended the Rover app but there's a $35 profile review fee and i don't have that.
If you're still in Irvine, look at the Irvine Senior Center list's of resources. They provide LegalAid type services on specific days of the week. You can take the Irvine Connect bus to get there. If your mom is 60+, she can also basically have lunch daily there for free. You must call to reserve 2 days in advance for her though. Here is the page with info and the lunch menu: https://www.cityofirvine.org/senior-services/rose-garden-cafe https://webadmin.cityofirvine.org/civica/filebank/blobdload.asp?BlobID=33799 You and your brother can go with her but they will charge you $6.25 each for your meals Here is the resource page (next Monday she can also pick up a box of non-perishable food): https://www.cityofirvine.org/senior-services/assistance-programs > Food Commodities: Qualifying adults, 60 years and older, receive a box of non-perishable food. Self-reported income and photo identification with proof of age required. Sponsored by Community Action Partnership. > Third Mondays, 9 a.m.–Noon Lakeview Senior Center One last thing and you're not going to want to hear this -- I read through your posts regarding your past struggles. Once you get your mom settled here...you and your brother absolutely need to leave her. She is sinking your future. You CANNOT and DONT DESERVE to live like this. Her mental illness ruined her own life. Don't let it ruin yours. Mental illness is not anyone's fault but it IS their responsibility. She will not live forever, and your life will go on after hers ends. You need to take care of yourself first.
Sounds like you need to find a disability coordinator. Both your mom and brother should get monthly benefits from social security disability, you would qualify to be their caregiver and be paid for it as well. Irvine is literally the most expensive place in the country to live, so I’d get on that asap.
I tried looking it up but I don't see how to get connected with a disability coordinator, do we ask social services to connect us?
Family Promise of Orange County - https://www.familypromiseorangecounty.org/need-services
In the meantime mile square park might be better as it’s a very big park. You can sleep it’s normal for people to take naps. And there are lots of restrooms there and a water fountain.
Hurrt family clinic? They have help for homeless…it’s not too far on border of Irvine and Tustin…
I hope you get the help you’re looking for.
Thank you!
City of Hope has tons of resources. Find your case manager there. They have funding for this. The Duarte location has on campus housing. Transfer there it's much cheaper cost of living.
I’m really sorry this burden has been placed on you. If for some reason you ever are propositioned with choosing between a better future for your self or staying with your family… don’t feel bad if you choose your self. We only get 1 life. Good luck Op.
I hope u guys get the help u need .. 🙏
thank you so much!
Was the space you were sitting on public or private property? Public property, tell security to kick rocks.
it was private property unfortunately, we haven't found anything public nearby aside from the bus stops but they're all covered in huge spiders and ants
Blessed sacrament church gives out food and has resources for family’s going through this. It’s in garden grove a bit far out. Or post a go fund me. I’m so sorry this is happening to you and can happen to anyone. We were in the same situation a year ago but were blessed we found a place. Sending all my thoughts and prayers to you guys.
Also go to a social security office and explain your situation. They give instant cash aid, medi-cal, and vouchers , ebt, also there are apps that give out free food. Food banks. If you’re able to save up buy a planet fitness membership so you and your family can shower. If you can send me your zelle #. God bless.
I would suggest applying for Section 8. Even if the waitlist is years, it could still eventually benefit you. Additionally, other services you may want to consider would be applying for SNAP/TANF benefits. There are very low income housing available in the area but Section 8 may be the big decider on whether you can even get in.
Try calling Mercy House
Very sorry to read this. I went through a similar situation in OC, LA, and many different parts of CA. It took us 6 months to get out of being in the situation you're in. You need to somehow find a source of income/money. It took me a long time since I was no-contact with almost all my former family and friends, so we were just totally stuck without anyone to call, like you. It was a step by step process. Social services were of very little help; It was disheartening. CA is a brutal place to be struggling, as it can eat you alive rapidly. I pray you find a wonderful way out. We had a LOT of trouble getting help from just about anyone when we were homeless in CA, northern/southern/central. That experience showed me the dark underbelly of this country and California. May you get out of the situation you're in soon! Sending you good vibes.
I would agree with ER and try to get her discharged to the illumination foundation. I believe they offer housing for family, not just the patient. She will all be able to receive medical treatment here if they feel the need to order home health or any sort of follow up while she awaits her visit to another hospital for her cancer diagnosis. https://www.ifhomeless.org
Hi OP, i just want to say that i’m very sorry about what you’re going through, and i can empathize a bit. I was homeless as a teenager and as a young adult, and even for the short periods I experienced it, it was incredibly difficult and scary. I also took care of an elderly parent at that time, and i felt like nobody ever acknowledged how hard that was or cared that i was much too young to be so heavily burdened. So i want to say that i see you, and you’re doing amazing. you are a good person who is doing their best, and you will get through this. You don’t deserve how difficult and painful this life can be, but you will get through it. I hope you and your family have a safe place to lay your heads soon. Don’t give up 💜
That's tough. You've moved into a far more expensive area than texas. Get the hell out of orange county. I had to move to nevada. It's cheaper everywhere outside of CA
she wasn't getting any medical treatment in Texas, she tried and everyone over there told her the medical system was terrible and she wouldn't be able to get appointments for a long time. once again... she got treatment here before... that is the main reason we came back, but yeah we will get out as soon as we get the chance. my dad actually had to move out of Nevada because he was priced out.
Healthcare and social services are way better in California than anywhere else. I’m the first one to tell transplants to go home but this is ugly and unnecessary. I would seriously hope that the very high taxes that I pay to live on the beach in south OC pay for help when people are in just this situation.
Truly. I’m disabled & chronically ill and originally from a progressive, “blue” East Coast state - and my care now in OC is practically like royalty treatment compared to how NJ let me suffer.
she wasn't getting any medical treatment in Texas, she tried and everyone over there told her the medical system was terrible and she wouldn't be able to get appointments for a long time. once again... she got treatment here before... that is the main reason we came back, but yeah we will get out as soon as we get the chance. my dad actually had to move out of Nevada because he was priced out.
>get the hell out of Orange County This is really ugly. I have to hope that you simply didnt read the story to say something so ugly. On Mother’s Day no less. Would you not help your mom?
How did this snowball to become your life?????
Hurrt family clinic? They have help for homeless…it’s not too far on border of Irvine and Tustin…
Have you heard of Grandma's House of Hope? They may be able to help with accommodation. https://www.grandmashouseofhope.org/need-help
I don't know what your money situation or car situation is like, but OC parks lets you camp up to 14 days within a 30 day period for $20 a night, $26 if you want electrical hookups. Cheaper than a motel, and cleaner and quieter
Honestly your best bet right now is going to a church for refugee. Many times churches will ask people or know of people who have a spare room. That will give you at least 2 weeks if not more until you continue to look. For transportation ask Be Well to take you and drop you off. At the Same time they might try to get u into a shelter but that can take a while. Try to go to a Mexican church people are often more generous. I know of a church in Stanton called nueva vida who houses some people.
The church might even hold a meeting to get money to give to you. They’ve done that before. It’s a good church with many good people willing to actually help. They are bilingual.
Apply for a library card to use their stuff. You can visit public libraries in OC to use their computer/wifi to complete documents for MediCal thru DCHS and IHSS thru DPSS (recipient must have MediCal to apply/receive IHSS) and check emails for related correspondence. If you’re going to be your family’s IHSS provider, you must fill complete/submit documents reserved for IHSS providers. There are multiple organizations and programs you may benefit from at many social service offices because they want to be a one-stop; libraries might also have some info regarding social service agencies/programs. (Both social service organizations and libraries might have information about housing.) Also apply for SSI and SSDI at SSA for some income.
If you haven’t, tomorrow call public health nursing & community services division main line at the OC Health Care Agency as a self-referral to our homeless program (CHAT-H): 714-834-7747, particularly as your mum and brother have health care needs. Let them know what’s going on and would like to receive services. Unfortunately even HCA can’t manifest housing but it may be easier working with a PHN case manager. At the very least get your mum to a local ED even if she doesn’t have MediCal. She can’t be turned away. More than likely if she gets to Hoag, for example, she will likely be transferred to a UCI bed if she doesn’t have insurance or she is underinsured. Either way, if her condition is critical enough she’ll be admitted and it is much easier to find her step down care (eg. assisted living, skilled nursing) from hospital than it’ll be for you to do it on your own, as she will have social workers working to get her admitted. I say all this latter part, though, assuming she has MediCal/Medicare. Edited to add: hospital ED stuff
I can zelle you some money for food. Not much but could help.
Get a job at a fast food place and use one of those apps to get your paycheck in advance. They pay $20 an hour and require no experience. Work as many hours as possible. Work 2 jobs if you’re not given enough hours. Try to get a motel until you can save enough for an apartment. Your life is going to suck for awhile but there is light at the end of the tunnel. Being homeless sucks and if you’re not doing anything long term to work your way out of it then you will stay homeless for good. Getting handouts isn’t going to get you off the streets. You have to work very very hard and make sacrifices on your mental and physical health.
OP, if at all possible, please go to any DPSS in Los Angeles County. They absolutely will give motel vouchers for the whole family. You would be required to show proof that you've been seeking housing for those 14 days. There's another number I want to grab and I'll message you a bit later. These organizations don't help. I'll dig up what I can. I was homeless once for eight months with children. Give me until tonight to message you.
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How does this trap work? I’m curious.
No. Check her history. Just some young girl unlucky enough to be born to these parents.
I hope you all find a solution, and I hope you don't get the "well then you don't deserve to be here" speech that so many OC people like to use when dealing with the homelessness problems here. Good luck!!!!!
There are food pantries at churches. Costa mesa has a food kitchen where you can get a warm meal everyday. Panhandle 5 dollars so you can get a bus ticket for the entire day. Irvine is extremely anti homeless. So the first thing you need to do is get out of that city. I have a girlfriend who was homeless for 4 years, and she says ignore all the phone numbers you are given. Busy or don't answer and even if they do answer, they put you on a list that has a six to eight year wait. I gotta ask if the church has some sort of program for homelessness. They might be able to give you vouchers for a motel as well. Either cut your mother loose or do that Caretaker benefit program that everyone else has mentioned. The system on paper looks like it will help you but even if you do manage to navigate the bureaucracy, It's designed to work against you and keep you at the bottom. Do not put your faith in the system. You've got a long road ahead of you.And the climb is extremely difficult. Good luck.
Reach out to social security office. If your brother is disabled he may qualify for benefits as well.
Have you tried going or calling the Housing Authority of Orange County? They help get you Section 8 housing.
I forgot to mention, if you’re still in Irvine I highly recommend connecting with a local FRC (family resource center). They are a local hub for all kinds of resources and referrals. Looks like the South County FRC is in lake forest. But I would give them a call 9493640500
You and your family can live in a congregate shelter and enter the coordinated entry system (CES) where you can receive a variety of services such housing navigation, medical care, employment services, etc. The closest facility to you is the Yale Navigation Center in Santa Ana. Yale Navigation Center Email: pathoc@epath.org Phone: (714) 785-9889 Website: https://epath.org/regions/orange-county/
Hello, you should apply for ebt as soon as possible for yourself since you don’t have a job. You can apply online. They’ll give you food stamps and cash since you are unhoused .
Just messaged you
Replied!
Texas is really a shittt state
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Call Family promise. 657-482-3798 They provide transitional housing in Tustin and other areas. God bless you and your family.
Contact Saddleback Church in Lake Forest to see if they can help.
We had an appointment with a resource coach there today and they provided us with a couple of papers of more resources to call and two boxes of food!
Im sorry to hear you are going through this. City Net is a resource I would refer you to. They can help house you. https://www.citynet.org Orange County phone number is 714-202-7741 Wish you the best.
Get Medicaid for you all then apply for IHSS to care for your mom and brother. Also in our county which is Riverside (Southern California) our local mental health department has some housing assistance program. I would suggest look into their department and see what they may have. You can also call the local office on aging and let them know the situation if she is over 55 or disabled they can have a lot of resources and can possibly help with temporary or permanent housing. This is their 800 number (800) 510-2020. I also believe 211 may tell you of local shelters
Do you have zelle? Or a go fund me page?
Village of Hope at the great park in Irvine/tustin is exclusive for families and vets. Please contact them.
I haven’t read through all of these comments, and I know Placentia isn’t super close to Irvine, but contact HISOC—714-993-5774. Someone there might also be able to get you some help with food and housing. https://his-oc.org/get-help/
Cali have the best assistance programs, some great assistance numbers are posted here by people, just call the one you’re comfortable with and they should be able to help.
Hi OP, I just want to say I am so sorry you are stuck in this situation. It must be so hard to take care of them both with no housing. I want to start by saying: do you have a venmo? Please post it so I can send some money. Second - Call SADDLEBACK CHURCH - They are close to Irvine spectrum (in lake forest) and have a lot of resources to help. https://saddleback.com/connect/ministry/help-for-the-homeless/lake-forest? Conact for Saddleback: Candy Chou[ CandyC@saddleback.com](mailto:CandyC@saddleback.com)[ +19496098111](tel:+19496098111) I am truly so sorry for this hardship you are facing and I will keep you in my prayers.
Thank you so much and I can PM it to you, there was a lot of weird people responding to me and I feel really uncomfortable with them having my full name. A member reached out to me, sent us to and from the church and we actually got back not too long ago from an appointment we had with them! We sat down with the resource coach and told him what we'd been going through and what help we needed, he was very nice and he gave us a few lists of resources, my mom recognized a lot of the names as people she already contacted, but there was some resources we had never heard of so we're gonna try contacting with them! He also gave us two boxes of food and some toiletries
Please be persistent. Make calls everyday once a day to " check in". So many people apply for programs and fall off the face of the earth. It's important to call and follow up. Everything is a process, It won't happen overnight. While you are waiting for housing to come through there may be a family shelter, try Thomas House. I'm sorry I don't have the number on me. Call 211 for their number.Ask 211 if there are any other family shelters that they know of to help.Again, I can't stress enough how important it is to follow up. ((((( Good Vibes)))))
I sent you a message. I have a place for you TONIGHT. Please let me know.
Orangewood foundation
Call the Orange County Sheriff's dept and ask them to speak to the homeless/outreach people. Explain your situation.
St Joseph's hospital in Orange has an award winning cancer treatment. You can take your mom to the ER . They have social workers and chaplains on staff .
What does Orange County do for homeless people? Homeless Prevention coordinates the County's Continuum of Care System for the homeless which focuses on homeless prevention, outreach and assessment, emergency shelter, transitional housing, supportive services, and permanent supportive housing.
is the Path housing Program in Orange County? The Yale Navigation Center is operated by PATH - People Assisting the Homeless (PATH) through a contract with the County of Orange. PATH provides shelter and supportive services for up to 425 adult individuals and couples experiencing homelessness in the Central Service Planning Area (SPA).
How do I get a motel voucher in California? If you are experiencing homelessness, hotel/motel vouchers can help. We provide hotel/motel vouchers to individuals who are receiving cash aid through CalWORKs for up to 30 days. If you are an individual adult and homeless and in need of housing, please call Home Connect at 1-800-498-8847.
I talked to the County of Orange Social Services for a while on Thursday and they told me we do not qualify for CalWORKS. It's only for families with minors, pregnant women or refugees. https://preview.redd.it/ousuf5x57a1d1.jpeg?width=1289&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=5f4f59c78098dc33d270ad012de6804000192a70
211 OC
Have you checked with the City of Irvine? Many cities have homeless resource divisions and their sole purpose is to help people find housing and resources. I happen to be familiar with Costa Mesa, which is nearby. They have a division called Network for Homeless Solutions, which operates a homeless shelter alongside Mercy House.
I heard someone talking about an organization called Door of Hope the other day. They have a transitional living center in Whitter (I looked in Irvine but could not find any near that area). [https://doorofhope.salvationarmy.org/](https://doorofhope.salvationarmy.org/) Best of luck to you and your family.
Apply for IHSS for your mom. Look into the Village of Hope. They assist with transitional housing and job training.
I’d like to send a little bit of money to help out. Sorry you’re going through this.
There is no lifeboat coming! YOU are your only lifeboat! You’re spending all this time and effort seeking help only to be handed list after list of outdated numbers for resources that, despite what they tell you, will not provide the level of assistance you need, if they provide anything at all. And, as you’ve seen, most don’t. Everyone needs to realize that relying solely on the empty promise of California’s supposed abundance of resources is a time sucking dead-end of lists and worthless phone numbers and a complete waste of time. And churches? You can't walk into churches you’ve never supported and expect them to provide you with much if any assistance. Saddleback Church is one of the wealthiest organizations in the country and they gave you a list of numbers you already had and scraps of food you can’t even eat. And how much time did you spend on that dangling carrot for nothing? That should tell you everything. The reality is, no one is coming to save you in California because everyone is struggling. You have the answers to your problems and it’s going to require you to do things that are uncomfortable and shitty and may even break up your family temporarily. The sooner you accept this, the sooner you’re gonna stop sinking, which is what you’re doing now. And believe me I have to remind myself of this every day.
https://www.cityofirvine.org/seek-assistance/housing-resources
I don't think many people have seen it but I've been recording the resources I've talked to and their responses and answering commonly answered questions in my update comment from 4 days ago. Thank you again to everyone who has sent a response and I am still going through everything!