Making A Difference: HomeAid : Hammering Out Shelter

Orange County, like most urban areas, is critically short of shelter beds for the homeless. In a privately funded effort to close the gap, a group of developers, contractors, suppliers and consultants has built or renovated 22 shelters for the so-called transitionally homeless-those in immediate need of housing due to job loss, illness or abuse. The group, HomeAid Orange County, has since its founding in 1989 garnered more than 350,000 hours of labor from 20,000 volunteers and nearly $6.5 million in cash and in kind donations from 1,200 local developers, contractors and businesses.

When completed, the shelters are run by established nonprofit care providers who require clients to get job or educational training to promote self- sufficiency.

“We deliberately chose the transitionally homeless because people could see their investment pay off and see the homeless get back on their feet”, says HomeAid Executive Director Michael Lennon, one of two paid staff members.

Although it is a nonprofit arm of the Orange County chapter of the national Building Industry Assn., most of HomeAid’s $350,000 annual budget comes from grants, fund- raising and private contributions, Lennon says.

HomeAid has set up chapters in Los Angeles, Riverside and San Bernardino counties. In December, HomeAid America was established to replicate the shelter program nationwide, starting in Lennon’s native Chicago this spring. “We call it building hope for the homeless,” he says.

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The Process

1. On the Drawing Board

In early 1995, Casa Teresa- a home for single mothers in Orange that provides temporary shelter, training and counseling for up to 70 women with infants a year- is one of about 20 Orange County nonprofits to apply to HomeAid for assistance. A HomeAid committee of builders selects Casa Teresa, based on its record for effectiveness and community support, for one of three yearly projects.

2. Choosing a ‘Contractor(

HomeAid asks Orange County- based Beazer Homes of California Inc. to act as “builder captain” and coordinate the project, since it is already putting up a development nearby. Gerry Gates, president of Beazer’s Southland division, decides to replace (rather than remodal) an aging cottage with a two- story residence building.

3. Constructing the Team

HomeAid enlists the help of BBA Architects of Irvine and Scheurer Architects of Newport Beach. Beazer begins lining up about 30 of its subcontractors, who will be asked to contribute everything from the roof to carpeting to landscaping. Typically about 80% of work is pro bono. Any needed cash will come first out of a $30,000 federal block grant, then from $50,000 Casa Teresa is raising. The value of the new building will be about $225,000.

4. Moving In

Groundbreaking is slated for February, pending final city approval. Barring weather delays, the project is to be completed by May.

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What It Would Cost

Artist’s rendering of the new Casa Teresa building shows approximate open- market costs of the subcontracting jobs for which HomeAid seeks donated materials and labor.

Electrical (includes fixtures): $3,700

Framing: $50,000

Design services: $45,000

Plumbing: $10,000

Roof: $6,000

Appliances: $2,500

Finish carpentry: $3,500

Dry walling: $9,000

Landscaping: $4,000

Carpeting: $4,000

Notes: Figures are for labor and materials: they do not add up to $225,000 because not all costs are shown.

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To Get Involved: Call (714) 553- 9510

Researched by PATRICIA A. KONLEY / For The Times