Welcoming Neighbors Home
In Tapestry’s Welcoming Neighbors Home Initiative, we work to serve, and to advocate for, people experiencing homelessness. This initiative started as a ministry of Tapestry and while many of our volunteers come from the Tapestry congregation, increasingly we have volunteers from all over South Orange County joining in our efforts. We strive to see all our neighbors housed. We believe in the power of a housing first approach to end homelessness, and we advocate for permanent supportive and affordable housing solutions. Until our goals are achieved, we also provide direct services to those in need.
More than two dozen Tapestry members and Homes for All Volunteers showed up to march in the Lake Forest 4th of July Parade. Our posters calling for more affordable housing drew applause from the people watching us go by!
Advocacy Efforts
While South OC cities were updating their housing plans for California State in 2020 and 2021, we conducted detailed analysis of their plans and submitted public comments with recommendations.
When new housing developments are identified, we activate our pool of advocates, and alert our allies, to write letters and attend city council and planning commission meetings to advocate for affordable and permanent supportive housing to be included in any new development. Since 2020, our volunteers have submitted well over 500 public comments to 11 South OC City Councils and Planning Commissions and to the OC Board of Supervisors.
We amplify our impact by working in close collaboration with the Kennedy Commission, United Way, People for Housing, the League of Women Voters, Housing is a Human Right OC, Homes for All, the San Clemente Affordable Housing Coalition and Concerned Citizens of Laguna Woods. We co-founded the Homes for All South OC Coalition.
Service Efforts
Volunteers provide dinner one night a month at the Friendship Shelter Alternative Sleeping Location in Laguna Beach, run food drives and hygiene-kit drives and work at the Saddleback School District Silverado MarketPlace Food Pantry.
A Note About Terminology
Affordable housing is for low income people who can afford to pay some, but not all of the rent payment, with the balance being subsidized. Typically affordable housing is when 30% or less of the renters income is needed for rent.
Supportive housing is affordable housing for people who need more assistance, and includes wrap-around services tailored to their particular needs — such as, case management, medication management, job searching help, financial management.