ORANGE, Calif. (October 1, 2026) — The CalOptima Health Board of Directors has approved $8 million in grants to nine community organizations to strengthen housing and homelessness services for its members across Orange County. The funding will support a range of projects from building housing units to creating programs that improve housing navigation.
These grants are the latest in CalOptima Health’s five-year commitment to addressing housing insecurity as a key driver of health outcomes. The funding comes from California’s Housing and Homelessness Incentive Program (HHIP) and CalOptima Health’s financial reserves.
“Addressing homelessness requires strong and connected partnerships with community organizations working together to meet people where they are,” said Supervisor Vicente Sarmiento, Chair of the CalOptima Health Board of Directors and Supervisor of Orange County’s Second District. “These grants will strengthen organizations that work each day to connect our members with housing and other resources, which have a direct impact on their health.”
CalOptima Health’s competitive grant-making process includes a comprehensive review of proposals, which resulted in the following approvals for funding:
- National CORE received a $3 million grant to construct family housing in Lake Forest, providing 50 affordable units, including 15 permanent supportive housing units for formerly unhoused individuals and families. National CORE supports families and seniors by providing affordable, safe and high-quality housing communities.
- A $2.4 million award went to Olive Crest, a nonprofit organization dedicated to preventing child abuse and neglect by strengthening, equipping and restoring children and families in crisis. The funds will be used for a new 16-unit supportive transitional housing development in Santa Ana that will serve transition-age youth exiting foster care.
- American Family Housing received $1.1 million to put toward the construction of a 20-unit permanent supportive housing project in Westminster. American Family Housing provides a continuum of housing and other services to support low-income families and individuals.
- An award of $1 million was given to the City of Santa Ana to develop a countywide affordable-housing website. The site will help individuals and families access help for a wide range of social needs and make affordable units visible to low-income households and CalOptima Health members with real-time listings and navigation support.
- Five smaller nonprofit community organizations received $100,000 each to fund services or projects that reduce the risk of homelessness and health disparities in the populations they serve. They include Action Alliance Foundation; Hub for Integration, Reentry & Employment; Korean Community Services of Orange County; My Safe Harbor Inc. and The Cambodian Family.
“The grants are part of CalOptima Health’s broader commitment to health equity,” said Kelly Bruno-Nelson, DSW, Executive Director of Medi-Cal/CalAIM at CalOptima Health. “Combined with other major initiatives that reach the unhoused population, such as Street Medicine, these funds deliver tangible, life-changing resources for members experiencing homelessness. Health begins with stable housing.”