Our programs create stable homes for families & bright futures for kids in our community

SPIN is on a mission to restore Orange County’s families and individuals in crisis to self-sufficiency.

Explore our programs below to get more information.

For additional services & referrals in Orange County,
please call 211 OC or visit 211OC.org

New Start Family Housing Program

In early spring of 2026, SPIN is launching the New Start Family Housing Program to further transform the lives of Orange County families experiencing homelessness.

During 2025, families in need waited six months or more to receive housing assistance, increasing trauma and disruption, especially for children. New Start will target families that have experienced homelessness for 120 days or less and who are not currently prioritized for HUD-funded services, addressing a critical gap in the system. Through housing assistance, wraparound case management, and financial literacy education, New Start will help families regain stability sooner, reduce the impact of homelessness on children, create better long-term outcomes, and build a clear path toward permanent housing and greater self-sufficiency. 

Guided Assistance To Permanent Placement (GAPP) Housing Program

Our housing program, GAPP, offers vital financial assistance and support to help house families with children experiencing homelessness. At the core of GAPP is comprehensive case management and support services, which are designed to address the underlying challenges that have contributed to a family's current circumstances. We collaborate closely with clients to identify and implement solutions, such as job development, counseling, budgeting, credit repair, and additional resources, empowering families to achieve long-term stability and success.

Family Services Navigation Program

Through our Family Services Navigation (FSN) program, we provide guidance, advocacy, and support to help families understand and access eligible housing assistance.

Serving People in Need (SPIN) supports families with minor children who are experiencing homelessness by helping them navigate available housing resources. Our Family Services Navigation staff works closely with families to help them prepare for and engage with the Family Coordinated Entry System (FCES). By offering informed guidance, system navigation, and ongoing support, SPIN helps families take meaningful steps toward safe and stable housing.

Hear from the ones we serve.

Hear from one of our client families and how she reached self-sufficiency and sustainability with the help of SPIN.

Former client, Angie, describes her path to self-sufficiency.

Yvonne describes her personal journey of homelessness and recovery with the help of SPIN's Case Manager.

Testimonials

Thank you SPIN for being a blessing to our family. We are very grateful to be in our own apartment and having a normal lifestyle again, after living in our car and facing an uncertain future. We appreciate the guidance from SPIN's case manager, the assistance from your career counselor, the workshops and of course, remembering our children's birthdays and our family at the holidays.

We will never forget what SPIN was able to do for our family. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts.

-Jessica

My homelessness situation began when I came to the US with the hope of finding better opportunities. At first, I had the illusion of working and moving forward, but I experienced very big barriers. I tried to remain hopeful and resilient, seeking support from organizations and people who provide help without judging. 

My SPIN Case Manager helped me. I was connected with a shelter when I had nowhere to stay, she provided places where I could find food and clothing and legal resources, and she helped me find an apartment to live in permanently. Now I have a safe place for my family. 

I truly value the guidance, the time, and the dedication that has been offered to me, as they will make a big difference in my life.  This support has given me hope and motivation to move forward.

-Ossie

I wanted to take a moment to say thank you to SPIN and everyone involved with the program. SPIN has truly been a life changing gift. When I first heard about the program it seemed too good to be true. Luckily for me and my son, all of it was true and more.

The day that I was accepted into the program my life started on a fresh, positive path. It is amazing how in just two weeks time I had a place to call my own and food in my refrigerator and a fresh start with a lot of help to back me up. There really are no words to express the gratitude for all that SPIN has done and continues to do. I know that I have a chance to succeed that I might not have had otherwise. I am truly thankful everyday for what SPIN has done for me this past year. All I can say is thank you a million times over.

I can only hope that one day I will be able to positively impact someone’s life the same way SPIN has impacted my life and my son’s life.

-Stacey

I am a single mother and a survivor. I tend to repeat this—not to draw attention to myself, but because it is an essential part of my process and recovery. I have PTS. I still struggle to stop feeling like a victim, but I am still able to keep fighting. I have a daughter with special needs; she is the one who sustains my life. I also have a 10-year-old dog.

In July 2024, we became homeless and ended up living in our car as a consequence of the challenging and difficult nature of my daughter's diagnosis—and my own as well. We both receive the necessary treatments, but unfortunately, my family could not cope with living alongside my daughter after repeated crises and difficult behaviors. These events took a heavy toll on my family—physically, emotionally, and mentally—until, one day, they decided they could no longer continue sharing a home with us.

It was incredibly difficult; I could not work because I had to care for my daughter, and it was even harder to be without a home. We were contacted by our SPIN Case Manager, Sylvia, who—from our very first interaction—made me feel that we were not alone and that there was hope. It wasn't just her words of encouragement, it was also her genuine concern and empathy. She constantly shared information with us regarding places to get food, job opportunities, housing options, and more. I will never forget that during this difficult period, my daughter underwent surgery and had two hospitalizations, yet Sylvia remained in constant communication with me. I truly knew that I could count on her and SPIN, and this made me feel supported during those painful moments.

The process was difficult, as many apartment complexes rejected my applications because I had no credit history and no job. I remember crying a lot and feeling like giving up, but Sylvia always believed that I would succeed—and she was right. In September 2025, we were finally able to secure a home. Throughout this entire time, SPIN helped me not only with security deposits and rent payments, but we also received food, personal care items, Christmas gifts, and much more.

I have recently begun working as a caregiver for my daughter, and that brings me great joy. I have also gone back to school to earn my high school diploma, and I am currently participating in a program for parents of children with special needs. My future goal is to help and guide other parents, teaching them how to stand up for their children and how to effectively advocate for them before their school districts.

I continue to work on improving both my own health and my daughter's. I am a survivor, and my reasons for continuing to live are my daughter and my dog. I have no words to express how deeply grateful I am to God and to the entire SPIN team—and to the people who make this program possible—for being so empathetic, compassionate, and charitable.

Thank you for giving me the opportunity to move forward. You are an integral part of this new beginning!

-Jessie

My homeless journey began when I started using and selling drugs, which got me in trouble with the law. My SPIN Case Manager connected me with important resources, provided rental assistance so I could build a savings, helped me find a job, taught me budgeting so I could manage my money better, helped me enroll in school, and connected me with a church community.

Thanks to SPIN, my daughter and I are very content in our new apartment, and have started planning for the future, like taking vacations and continuing to save. Blessings to the SPIN organization for helping me provide a home for my daughter.

-Teresa

My homelessness journey started in 2020 when my active addictions were at their peak.  I was unsure of what I wanted in life.  In 2021, I became a parent and knew I had to make life changes.  It didn’t help that I was in an abusive relationship with the father of my child. I struggled with my mental health overall. My SPIN Case Manager offered financial literacy, pantry access, and support services.  Once I entered the program, my mental health stabilized, and I was grateful that services were available in case I needed them.

Now, I feel at peace knowing I have a safe space to sleep, eat and rest. It’s great to come home to our fur baby (which was on my daughter’s wish list for a long time!). I am thankful to have our own room and personal belongings. I am going to continue my journey at Golden West College and pursue the RN Program. My daughter has entered school, and now that we have a set home address, we are able to find a dual immersion school nearby.

My goals are to create a happy, loving, safe home; save money for a car; and become an RN.  I never thought it would be our turn to have our own place.  It seemed like a fairy tale.  I am grateful to have been blessed with the opportunity to have a stable home for my daughter.

-Vanessa