Orange County United Way and UC Irvine to launch homelessness cost study

“Orange County United Way and UC Irvine renew partnership to probe expenses associated with assistance provided to Orange County’s unhoused population. Study builds on 2017 analysis that found $299 million in annual costs and showed permanent supportive housing could reduce expenditures by nearly 50 percent. Irvine, Calif., May 12, 2026 — Orange County United Way and the University of California, Irvine are partnering to launch a new homelessness cost analysis that will provide evidence-based insight into the use of public resources to address the issue and which interventions have the greatest impact. The goal of the project is to advance governance, improve public accountability and expand civic understanding. The project builds on the success of their collaborative 2017 study Homelessness in Orange County: The Costs to Our Community , which found that $299 million was spent annually providing critical services – including healthcare, housing, public safety and related assistance – for Orange County’s unhoused population. It also determined that permanent supportive housing could reduce those costs by nearly 50 percent. The decennial update, funded by the John Randolph Haynes and Dora Haynes Foundation, will inform policy and funding decisions, according to Becks Heyhoe-Khalil, executive director of United to End Homelessness at Orange County United Way. “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,” Heyhoe-Khalil said. “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 , UC Irvine associate professor of sociology, will lead the data-driven research and analysis efforts using surveys, interviews and comprehensive administrative datasets. Orange County United Way’s Heyhoe-Khalil, Jennie Cottle and Carol Kim will lead the community endeavor to engage policymakers, funders and system leaders through gatherings and one-on-one meetings. Goldberg and Heyhoe-Khalil, along with David Snow, UC Irvine Distinguished Professor emeritus of sociology, were co-leads on the inaugural 2017 study, which provides comparison points against which progress will be measured and new areas of potential focus identified. Graduate and undergraduate student researchers from UC Irvine will assist in the project, and the collaborative campus and community team will translate findings into actionable stakeholder guidance. “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,” Goldberg said. “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.” Funded by a Haynes Foundation grant, the project will begin this month, with a final report anticipated in fall 2027. – Heather Ashbach, UC Irvine, and Stephanie Kupanoff, OCUW About the University of California, Irvine: Founded in 1965, UC Irvine is a member of the prestigious Association of American Universities and is ranked among the nation’s top 10 public universities by U.S. News & World Report . The campus has produced five Nobel laureates and is known for its academic achievement, premier research, innovation and anteater mascot. Led by Chancellor Howard Gillman, UC Irvine has more than 36,000 students and offers 224 degree programs. It’s located in one of the world’s safest and most economically vibrant communities and is Orange County’s second-largest employer, contributing $7 billion annually to the local economy and $8 billion statewide. For more on UC Irvine, visit www.uci.edu . About Orange County United Way: Orange County United Way mobilizes our community to create brighter futures for all, today and for generations to come. True to our founding spirit, whenever there is a need in our community, United Way is there. Through advocacy, collaboration and innovative programming, our work is comprehensive and action-oriented, effectively addressing our county’s unique challenges. From strengthening local resilience to expanding youth opportunity, financial stability and access to stable housing, we’re working toward an Orange County where everyone has the support they need to reach their full potential. To learn more, visit www.unitedwayoc.org . Media access: Radio programs/stations may, for a fee, use an on-campus studio with a Comrex IP audio codec to interview UC Irvine faculty and experts, subject to availability and university approval. For more UC Irvine news, visit news.uci.edu . Additional resources for journalists may be found at https://news.uci.edu/media-resources .

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