ABOUT US
The Welcoming Neighbors Home initiative works to serve and advocate for people experiencing, or who are at risk of, homelessness.
We believe in the inherent worth and dignity of every person.
Through our advocacy, working in partnership with other organizations and individuals, we promote a housing first policy. We believe that when people have a place to call home, they are better positioned to address other challenges. We encourage cities to adopt inclusionary housing policies that require extremely low and very low-income affordable housing units.
We also champion permanent supportive housing as a proven solution to homelessness.
Acknowledging the need for direct service, we provide dinner one night each month at the Friendship Shelter Alternative Sleeping Location in Laguna Beach, and organize food drives for local food pantries, and donation drives for food and hygiene kits, and clothing drives, for street level outreach.
History and Collaborative Approach
Welcoming Neighbors Homes started as a ministry of Tapestry Unitarian Universalist Congregation – and continues to be major focus of its social justice work.
Over time, others outside Tapestry have joined our efforts, especially in our letter-writing campaigns to city councils to advocate for more affordable housing and in contributing to our service drives.
We have welcomed the opportunity to work collaboratively with volunteers from Neighborhood Congregational Church in Laguna Beach, the League of Women Voters of Central Coast, Housing is a Human Right OC and people who found us through United Way of OC’s United to End Homelessness advocacy classes. We have worked in close collaboration with the Kennedy Commission, United Way’s United to End Homelessness ,YIMBY - People For Housing, YIMBY Law, Costa Mesa Affordable Housing Coalition and San Clemente Affordable Housing Coalition.
Leadership Team
Rona Henry
Chair, Welcoming Neighbors Home
Reverend Kent Doss
Minister, Tapestry Church
Ryan Leney
Webmaster
Denise Fleury
Research and City Monitors Coordinator
Ann Owens
Outreach Coordinator
Kate Van Camp
Research and City Monitors Coordinator