Hope Harbor / Laurel House

Food and Shelter: Laurel House, dba Hope Harbor,is the only long-term shelter program in Orange County, CA providing direct shelter services and basic necessities, including food, for runaway, homeless and at-risk teen boys and girls. The goal is to prevent teen homelessness by reunifying at-risk teens with their families or transitioning them into other positive living situations. Eighty-six percent of the total budget is delivered directly to beneficiaries for program services at low or no cost to the beneficiaries, 100% of which is privately donated. Including Donated Labor, eighty-six percent of the total budget is dedicated to program services. Hope Harbor successfully achieved 100% of this goal.

Live-in House Parents: Hope Harbor is the only youth shelter program in Orange County that employs live-in house parents providing case management and ongoing, consistent, stable supervision and support to runaway, homeless and at-risk teens. House parents coordinate school enrollment, liaise with the local schools on each teen's individual needs including individualized Education Plans when needed and coordinate the mental health treatment plan. They meet regularly with each teen on his/her behavioral contract and goals. With their spouses, the house parents provide a safe and nurturing family atmosphere. The spouse at the girls' home is an officer with the Tustin Police Department. The spouse at the boys' home is a Guest Experience Coordinator at a local church in Tustin. In 2023, the following were provided: 82 hours of tutoring and SAT/ACT prep, 2,946 transportation assistance to school and appointments, 596 life skills sessions, 160 fitness and nutritional training sessions and 568 coaching/case management sessions. Hope Harbor successfully achieved 100% of this goal.

Counseling and Mental Health: Counseling and mental health services are provided to at-risk teens from low- to moderate- income households who have limited resources and access to mental health services. The teens we serve are struggling with issues of abuse, mental health, bullying, eating disorders, or suicide ideation, sometimes turning to substance abuse to self-medicate. Counseling sessions can average $150/hour which poses a significant burden to the families we serve. In 2023, 859 counseling sessions and 138 crisis counseling sessions were provided. Crisis counseling sessions are provided to teens who have experienced significant trauma such as sexual abuse or abandonment. Hope Harbor sucessfully acheived 100% of this goal.