PATH (People Assisting The Homeless) recently celebrated two years of operations at the Placentia Navigation Center, a 100-bed interim housing site for individuals experiencing homelessness in North Orange County. Wraparound services provided include housing navigation, linkage to healthcare and benefits, family reunification, and employment assistance. The ultimate goal is to connect participants to permanent housing.
Thanks to the strong partnerships PATH has forced, they are pleased to announce that the City of Placentia has extended their operational contract for two more years.
On March 31, 2020, North Orange County cities, in collaboration with PATH, opened the Placentia Navigation Center. Despite numerous challenges presented by the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, PATH served 179 individuals experiencing homelessness and helped 31 people obtain permanent housing in the first year of service.
Operational capacity was limited due to pandemic regulations for congregate settings, but social distancing, regular testing and on-site vaccine clinics limited the number of COVID-19 outbreaks at the site. This site also received state Pet Assistance and Support (PAS) funding that allowed the organization to welcome participants with pets and provide them with veterinary services.
PATH is proud to report that in 2021, during their second year of operations, they have served 203 individuals and helped 41 people make it home. That is a total of 72 people that are no longer experiencing homelessness.
PATH Orange County’s latest annual report can be found HERE.
“It’s been a true honor to be a part of this project from the beginning when it was just an idea, to what is now a comprehensive service-based Navigation Center that is celebrating its second anniversary. After an extensive review process, PATH was chosen to operate the Navigation Center, and they are doing an amazing job not only managing the facility, but also caring for the residents and treating them with the respect they deserve,” said Placentia Mayor Rhonda Shader. “It’s a great feeling to be able to celebrate the second anniversary and hear all of the positive stories from residents and former residents of the Center of how their lives have changed for the better. I’m so proud of the City, the residents, and all of our businesses who continue to support the Navigation Center and its mission, and I look forward to many more years of success for the Center and the residents.”
The Placentia Navigation Center is part of a regional plan to address homelessness in North Orange County. This Navigation Centers is the product of a collaboration between 13 cities (Placentia, Anaheim, Brea, Buena Park, Cypress, Fullerton, La Habra, La Palma, Los Alamitos, Orange, Villa Park, Stanton, and Yorba Linda) and is designed to provide interim housing and services for those experiencing homelessness in the area.
Tescia Uribe, PATH Chief Program Officer shared, “It takes a community joining together to accomplish great things, and the Placentia community has provided a lot of support. The Placentia Navigation Center opened at the beginning of the pandemic, but PATH’s team of essential workers continued to meet the critical needs of those we serve. As we go into our third year of operation, we are looking forward to serving more people and helping more people in North Orange County end their episode of homelessness.”
A wide range of volunteers, community partners, local businesses, schools and faith-based groups have come together to support this site. In 2021, nearly 400 people volunteered for activities that included pet clinics, holiday parties, and support groups. These efforts allowed them to provide 7,774 meals, which included hot meals served, snack bag and non-perishable donations. Some of their major supporters include the Placentia City Council, Placentia Rotary Club, and Placentia Buzz.
