By: Jessica Susolik

In Newport Beach, 1,189 children are sleeping in cars, motels and overcrowded apartments. One organization is working to break the cycle of homelessness.

Picture this: A twelve-year-old girl sits on a motel bed surrounded by her homework, her siblings and her parents—all squeezed into a single, cramped room. She's trying to focus on her math assignment while her family's life literally surrounds her. There's nowhere to go. No privacy. No space to just be a kid. This is happening right now in Newport Beach. In Costa Mesa. In Huntington Beach. In our community.

Over 29,000 students experiencing homelessness attend Orange County schools. The number is staggering and utterly real. But here's what will truly shock you: 1,189 of them live in Newport Mesa. Seventy-nine attend Newport Harbor High School. These are children attending schools in our community, sitting in classrooms with our children—brilliant, resilient children facing circumstances beyond their control. That's where Project Hope Alliance comes in.

A Mission Born from Personal Conviction

Walking into their Costa Mesa offices, you feel it immediately—something is different here. There's genuine warmth, authentic passion and an almost palpable sense of mission. Allen Burnett, Community Engagement Manager, describes it with emotion evident in his voice: "I've worked at dozens of places before, but it is so unique and so positive continuously, in spite of the challenges of the work that we do."

Behind that energy is Jennifer Friend, CEO and founder. Her story is deeply personal. As a child, Jennifer lived exactly what these 29,000 students are living right now. She and her three brothers, along with their parents, were crammed into 214-square-foot motel rooms. She knows the shame of it. The constant anxiety about where you'll sleep. The way homelessness doesn't just steal your bedroom—it steals your childhood, your privacy, your sense of safety and stability.

Her journey—from homeless child to UC Irvine graduate to law firm partner to nonprofit CEO—is so powerful it inspired a Broadway play called "Nomad Motel." But for Jennifer, this isn't about accolades. She left a lucrative law career because she couldn't ignore what she knew to be true: these children's futures are worth fighting for.

Understanding the Reality in Our Community

Under the McKinney-Vento Act, homelessness isn't just lacking shelter—it's lacking stability and safety. Allen explains, "These are folks who could be in a car, in a garage, in an apartment, or in a motel. We have a lot of motel families, but we also have families where there might be three families in a two-bedroom apartment. There's no room for that kid to do their homework or have privacy or be a ten-year-old."

Let that sink in. Students in our local schools are living in garages, sharing one-bedroom apartments with two other families, sleeping in cars, unable to do homework or have a moment alone.

Transformation Through Deep, Individual Care

What sets Project Hope Alliance apart is how they execute their mission with breathtaking intimacy. Case managers maintain caseloads of just 30 students, building the trust and rapport necessary for real, lasting change.

One young woman experiencing homelessness and living through domestic violence became completely withdrawn at school. Her case manager connected her with a therapist who could help her process trauma. As this girl worked through her pain, something remarkable happened. She began joining clubs, excelling academically. She earned a full-ride scholarship to a UC school.

Another student stopped attending school altogether. His shoes had worn completely through, and he was too embarrassed to attend. His case manager got him two pairs of Vans. That simple act changed everything. The student returned to school.

These aren't isolated incidents. Ninety-three percent of high school seniors graduate—compared to just 70% statewide for students experiencing homelessness. Eighty-six percent go on to college. Seventy-four percent are employed.

"If they graduate high school, they're 400% less likely to be homeless as an adult," Allen emphasizes. "So education is really the game-changer."

The Holiday Campaign: Giving With Dignity

As the holidays approach, Project Hope Alliance is preparing Santa's Workshop, where parents browse and choose toys for their own children rather than receiving handouts. For teenagers, they've created a thoughtful stocking drive. You can purchase a holiday stocking, add a $25 gift card (from In-N-Out, Taco Bell, Ulta, Best Buy, H&M, or Foot Locker), fill it with candy and teen-oriented gifts, and drop it off by December 8.

"Gift cards give the kid agency," Allen explains. "It's very empowering to a student to be able to go and choose something for themselves."

Last year, Project Hope Alliance provided holiday gifts to 400 students and families. This year, with your help, they can do it again.

How You Can Help

Participate in the stocking drive by December 8 at Project Hope Alliance, 1954 Placentia Ave #202, Costa Mesa, CA 92627 (Monday-Friday, 10am-4pm). Shop their Amazon Wishlist or contribute at projecthopealliance.org.

These are students in our schools, facing obstacles that most of us will never encounter, yet they show up every day ready to learn. Education is the bridge from crisis to stability. When we support vulnerable students today, we're strengthening the foundation of our entire community.

Visit projecthopealliance.org to learn more and get involved this holiday season.

Project Hope Alliance
1954 Placentia Ave #202, Costa Mesa, CA 92627 | (949) 722-7863 | Allen.B@ProjectHopeAlliance.org

Ending the Cycle of Homelessness, One Child at a Time