Orangewood, the leading provider of youth and young adult services in Orange County, and Orange County Probation received a $1.5M grant from CalOptima to fund the new Health and Homelessness Initiative Program (HHIP).
The program offers a comprehensive range of support for those in need, including transitional housing, permanent supportive housing, expanded community-based services, systems change initiatives, and equity-focused grants.
This support is part of the $2.7 million in community grants and innovative systems change projects awarded in June 2025 by the CalOptima Health Board of Directors to address homelessness in Orange County.
The funding provided to Orangewood Foundation and Orange County Probation will support temporary housing for justice-involved teens as they transition back to their families and daily responsibilities.
Recognizing the challenges that often accompany family reunification, HHIP will also offer stable housing and counseling resources to help these young people rebuild connections and successfully reintegrate into their home environments.
Homelessness continues to be an ongoing epidemic in Orange County as 271 transitional aged youth (ages 18-24) were reported unsheltered in 2024 (OC United Way). Orangewood’s goal is to ensure all transitional aged youth in need are provided with sufficient housing resources. Through HHIP, youth will receive housing and develop healthy living skills focused on family reunification and positive community reintegration, preparing them to successfully transition into adulthood and maintain housing stability.
“We are so grateful to CalOptima for providing us this support to youth in need as they step out from the probation system,” said Chris Simonsen, CEO, Orangewood Foundation. “This funding will go a long way to support successful reunification with their families and build critical skills they will need to successfully exit the justice system.”
HHIP aims to prevent and address housing insecurity for Medi-Cal members by ensuring those experiencing homelessness have a clear path into housing and can access the services needed to remain housed.
“This grant for Orangewood Foundation and Orange County Probation will increase local services and improve the homeless system of care for many individuals and families in Orange County who have struggled with housing insecurity,” said Michael Hunn, CEO of CalOptima Health. “Simply put, housing is health. Stable housing is the very foundation for accessing medical and behavioral health services.”
The case management for these justice-involved youth will be through Orangewood’s Youth Connected Program (YCP) – which provides teens in foster care with stable housing and educational resources so they can thrive in school, build life skills, and create a college or career path.
To learn more about Orangewood’s initiatives to provide housing for young people in need, visit
https://orangewoodfoundation.org/.
About Orangewood Foundation
Orangewood Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. We provide innovative services that uplift and empower young people who face challenges across Orange County and beyond. We are working towards a future where every young person thrives. For more information about Orangewood Foundation’s work or to get involved, please visit www.orangewoodfoundation.org.
About CalOptima Health
A county organized health system, CalOptima Health provides quality health care coverage for low-income children, adults, seniors and people with disabilities in Orange County, California. CalOptima Health’s mission is to serve member health with excellence and dignity, respecting the value and needs of each person. CalOptima Health serves nearly 905,000 members with a network of 8,700 primary care doctors and specialists and 43 acute and rehab hospitals.