Orange County United Way and the University of California, Irvine announced on May 12 that they will begin a new analysis of the costs associated with homelessness in Orange County. The project is funded by the John Randolph Haynes and Dora Haynes Foundation and aims to provide updated, evidence-based insight into how public resources are used to address homelessness and which interventions are most effective.
The organizations say this effort is important for improving governance, public accountability, and civic understanding regarding homelessness in the region. The new study builds on a previous collaborative report from 2017, which found that $299 million was spent annually on services for unhoused people in Orange County. That earlier report also indicated that permanent supportive housing could cut those costs nearly in half.
Becks Heyhoe-Khalil, executive director of United to End Homelessness at Orange County United Way, said: “Findings from the 2017 study reshaped countywide approaches to addressing homelessness and helped launch United Way’s United to End Homelessness initiative, which has stabilized and secured housing for more than 5,000 people in Orange County to date. When interventions are not evaluated for effectiveness and cost, ineffective approaches can persist, driving rising public expenditures, straining community systems and diminishing quality of life. This updated project will provide current, comprehensive findings and recommendations to help policymakers, funders and community members understand where the greatest return on investments are in our current landscape.”
Rachel Goldberg, associate professor of sociology at UC Irvine who will lead research efforts using surveys, interviews and administrative data sets said: “This study will provide Orange County with the most current, evidence-based understanding of the costs and effectiveness of homelessness interventions since 2017, establishing a clear understanding of which approaches yield the greatest improvements in housing stability and overall well-being for unhoused individuals while reducing the costs to our community. Our findings will help establish an updated shared baseline from which our community leaders and stakeholders can work together to solve one of our region’s most urgent challenges.”
Graduate students from UC Irvine will assist with research as part of a team translating findings into guidance for stakeholders. According to the official website, University of California Irvine participates in NCAA Division I athletics as the Anteaters; it has earned a Carnegie classification for very high research activity; functions within the University of California system; focuses on advancing knowledge through research with an emphasis on inclusive excellence; engages internationally through collaborations; holds accreditation from WASC Senior College & University Commission.
The project begins this month with results expected by fall 2027.