The Orange County Board of Supervisors approved the Orange County Housing Finance Trust Joint Powers Agreement (JPA) with elected officials from Mission Viejo, Huntington Beach and Fullerton present.

“Orange County has set a precedent across the country on fiscally responsible ways to build partnerships with our cities and stakeholders to address homelessness and housing affordability,” Chairwoman Lisa Bartlett, Fifth District Supervisor, said during discussion of the agreement.

The Board of Supervisors’ decision establishes the OC Housing Finance Trust to provide and receive funds for housing for those experiencing homelessness and those who are of extremely low, very low and low income within Orange County.

“This truly is a first of its kind JPA that will help bring a level of cooperation between the county, our cities, nonprofit and for profit partners to help create much needed housing stock for our low income and homeless residents,” Supervisor Do said.

The OC Housing Finance Trust will not regulate land use, serve as owner or operator of housing units, impose fees, nor approve a housing project or program if the local governing body does not support it. The agreement balances the need to bring much-needed housing units online while retaining local control in development decisions.

In its efforts to address affordable housing and homelessness, the Board co-sponsored Assembly Bill 448, which authorizes the County and cities in Orange County to create the Orange County Housing Finance Trust. Once AB 448 passed, then-Chairman Andrew Do, First District Supervisor, worked with elected officials and staff from the County and cities to establish an initial framework and draft the proposed bylaws.

Two Supervisors, two countywide elected officials and five city council members will sit on the governing board of the OC Housing Finance Trust.

OC Community Resource’s Housing Funding Strategy set an initial goal of 2,700 new supportive housing units and affordable housing units within six years. Funding sources, such as Proposition 1, Housing for a Healthy California, and Multi-Family Housing Program Supportive Housing, reduced the capital gap to $252 million. The Board also designated $70.5 million in Mental Health Services Act (MHSA) money on top of $25 million No Place Like Home monies already allocated to address this critical priority.

To date, the Board’s support for housing has resulted in funding applications and developer interest of more than 1,000 units of supportive and affordable housing units.

The Orange County Board of Supervisors announced that it has committed $600,000 of Mental Health Services Act (MHSA) Prevention and Early Intervention (PEI) monies for the creation of a countywide suicide prevention program. This funding will be given to MindOC, the fiscal entity of Be Well Orange County, an initiative bringing together public, private, academic and faith-based organizations, as well as others, to create a coordinated system of mental healthcare and support for all Orange County residents.

“As Chairwoman of the Orange County Board of Supervisors, it is my duty and responsibility to ensure the health, safety, and well-being of all Orange County residents. My heart goes out to families who feel they don’t have resources to help their loved ones. I want to let our constituents know that they are not alone and there is hope,” said Chairwoman Lisa Bartlett, Fifth District Supervisor.

In recent years, suicide rates and mental health related hospitalizations have increased throughout Orange County. The County’s per-capita rate of suicide increased 45 percent between the three-year periods of 1999 to 2001 and 2011 to 2013. This compares to an average increase of 22 percent nationwide during the same time frame, and was the largest increase in any metropolitan county in the U.S.

“Addressing mental health in our county has never been more important than right now. We need to expand our mental health services and make our community aware that there is help, and where there is help, there is hope,” said Supervisor Andrew Do, First District.

During FY 2018/19, the Orange County MHSA Steering Committee supported the recommendation to expand school-based suicide prevention campaigns and activities for students in grades K-12, as well as for transitional-age youth in higher educational and other settings. The Committee also supported several other recommendations targeting underserved individuals throughout the lifespan, including strategies to increase timely access to services and to promote recovery and resilience, thereby preventing suicide.

“It is my hope that MindOC helps make a greater difference in the lives of our residents. There are three words to remember: Every life matters,” said Supervisor Doug Chaffee, Fourth District.

Suicide is the second leading cause of death for children and youth between the ages of 10 and 24. In Orange County, teen suicides averaged 13.3 deaths per year over the past 10-year period. Suicide is a leading cause of non-natural death for youth and teenagers between the ages of 10 and 19 years old. In Orange County, suicides accounted for 29% of non-natural deaths, making it the second leading cause of non-natural death behind motor vehicle collisions. This is higher than the statewide average in California, in which 22% of deaths among teens were due to suicides.

For more information about suicide prevention, visit OC Health Care Agency at: http://www.ochealthinfo.com/suicideprevention.

For many, St. Patrick’s Day is a chance to celebrate Irish culture, gather with friends and wear green. Before you start planning your St. Patrick’s Day celebrations, here are some tips to pair this year’s festivities with some environmental-friendly practices.

Conserve decorations

Borrow decorations from friends or family. Or re-use decorations from last year’s party to cut down the amount of waste that will later find its way to a landfill.

Recycle empty bottles and cans

Drinking responsibly also includes recycling. Instead of tossing out empty bottles and cans, take the time to recycle them.

Don’t litter

With all the excitement at St. Patrick’s Day parades, there’s usually a huge mess afterwards. Help your local clean-up crew and the environment by throwing away your trash. It’s a small gesture that has a huge impact. 

Reduce food waste

Use leftovers to make new recipes. Here are some great recipes you can try using leftover corned beef: https://www.tasteofhome.com/collection/recipes-to-make-with-corned-beef/.

Happy St. Patrick’s Day!

Join OC Parks staff and volunteers Monday, March 18 to learn about the various volunteer opportunities available in many of our OC Parks facilities. Travel around to park booths to meet park staff, ask questions, and learn what a "day in the life" of a typical volunteer at that facility would be like. Visit as many or as few park booths as you are interested in.

This is ideal if you are interested in learning more about the OC Parks Volunteer Program, need assistance getting connected with a park facility, or are an existing volunteer and would like to expand your volunteer role in OC Parks.   

This is an open house style event so drop by anytime Monday, March 18 between 6 and 8 p.m. We will be in the Soda Fountain Pavilion at Irvine Regional Park. Parking is free. Light refreshments will be provided.

Please use this link to register for free: https://letsgooutside.org/activities/2019/03/18/oc-parks-volunteer-information-night/

What: OC Parks Volunteer Information Night

When: Monday, March 18, 2019, 6:00 pm-8:00pm

Where: Soda Fountain Pavilion, Irvine Regional Park, 1 Irvine Park Road, Orange, CA 92869

Anaheim
Family Storytime
Saturday, March 23, 11:00 a.m. —11:30 a.m.
East Anaheim Library, 8201 E Santa Ana Canyon Road

Preschool Storytime
Friday, March 22, 10:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.
Canyon Hills Library, 400 Scout Trail

Irvine
The Art of Competition Exhibit
Now—May 12, Thursdays and Fridays, 12:00 p.m.—4:00 p.m., Saturdays and Sundays, 10:00 a.m.—4:00 p.m.
Orange County Great Park, 8000 Great Park Blvd.

Edible Gardening Workshop #2: Garden Plan, Plant Selection, and Planting
Saturday, March 23, 10:00 a.m.—11:00 a.m.
Orange County Great Park, 8000 Great Park Blvd.

Orange
Booktalk
Monday, March 18, 7:00 p.m.—8:00 p.m.
Main Library, 407 E. Chapman Avenue

Orange Public Library Foundation 2018 Winter Documentary Film Fest
Saturday, March 23, 2:30 p.m.
Main Library, 407 E. Chapman Avenue

Silverado
Family Drop-In Crafts
Saturday, March 16, 11:00 a.m.—2:00 p.m.
Library of the Canyons, 7531 East Santiago Canyon Rd.

Tustin
Family Storytime
Saturday, March 16, 9:15 a.m.—10:00 a.m.
Main Street and El Camino Real

Farmers Market
Wednesday, March 20, 9:00 a.m.—1:00 p.m.
Tustin Branch Library, 345 E Main St.

Villa Park
Music and Movement Storytime
Thursday, March 21, 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Villa Park Library, 17865 Santiago Blvd.

Yorba Linda
Marionette Show
Thursday, March 21, 6:30 p.m. — 7:15 p.m.
18181 Imperial Hwy, Yorba Linda, CA 92886

Sunday Concerts: Chamber Music, Santiago Quartet, Linda Owen, Conductor
Sunday, March 17, 1:30 p.m.
Richard Nixon Library and Museum, East Room, 18001 Yorba Linda Blvd.