South Orange County Equity Collaborative addresses housing issues

Rosa Melo, with her son, is participating in efforts to help neighbors make ends meet in a high-rent community.

The pandemic highlighted critical inequities for some communities of color where Providence Mission Hospital is leading the South Orange County Equity Collaborative, a group of nonprofit leaders and residents assessing needs in a small, impoverished neighborhood in South Orange County.-

Many residents in this neighborhood spend 50% or more of their income on housing – 20% more than what is considered economically feasible.-- 

The goal is to change systems and structures that create barriers through direct service, advocacy and policy change.-

“When people are spending that much on housing, there’s just not much left. It creates-a severe burden,” said Christy Cornwall, director of Providence Community Health Investment in Orange County.-

Resident Rosa Melo is a fierce advocate for her neighborhood and active in the housing initiative.-

“When you see the homes and see what has been broken for years, it's really eye-opening. I learned that my community has a lot more needs than I was aware of,” Melo said.-- 

Additionally, Providence ministries address equity and racial disparities by focusing on serving the most vulnerable residents in the area.

Providence developed a relationship with the TGR Foundation, a Tiger Woods charity, to support vulnerable youth in an after-school STEM program. This partnership is expanding to provide wellness services for local families, including insurance enrollment and health screenings.-