Orange County Health Services has been awarded a $1 million “Supporting Replication of Housing Interventions Grant” (SURE) from the Corporation for Supportive Housing with funds from the Health Resources and Services Administration.
Orange County is one of 10 applicants nationwide to use a Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program grant to find homes for youth and young adults living with HIV.
The grant will be awarded over three years, and was submitted in collaboration with Zebra Youth, a local nonprofit organization that helps at-risk youth aged 13-24 with housing, food, education, mental health, substance abuse, and family separation issues to guide them toward recovery and stability.
“This new grant will help us fill a housing gap in the community,” said Claudia Yabrudy, Manager of Orange County’s Health Services Fiscal and Operational Support Division. “Clients enrolled in the SURE Housing Initiative are provided housing assistance for up to two years and are connected to medical and support services under the Ryan White Part A Program.”
“Getting this grant sends an important message that we have support from the County, which is proactive in securing these grants and providing these much-needed resources,” said Heather Wilkie, Executive Director of Zebra Youth.
Orange County Health Services is responsible for administering the funds to Zebra Youth. Zebra Youth will be responsible for providing case management services, housing assistance services and connect clients to the Ryan White Part A program for medical care and medication assistance, food, transportation, mental health, substance abuse services and oral health services.
