Orange County outlines 150‑bed Goldenrod Village navigation center as path to permanent housing

Orange County officials on Monday presented detailed plans for Goldenrod Village, a proposed housing navigation center designed to serve up to 150 people and to connect residents of the county’s unsheltered population with case management, health services and permanent housing placements.

"Goldenrod Village will be a structured, professionally managed campus designed to serve up to a 150 individuals," Lisa Graham, manager of the Orange County Mental Health and Homelessness Division, said during an informational session. Graham said the center is intended to be a pathway to permanent housing rather than simply a place to sleep.

The county cited local need: Graham said the 2025 point‑in‑time count recorded 1,972 people experiencing homelessness in Orange County, about 1.3 individuals per 1,000 residents, and an estimated gap of roughly 758 beds for those needing shelter. She described rising rents and HUD data showing low‑income renters spend over 40% of their income on housing as drivers of the affordability gap.

Officials outlined the center’s planned features: sleeping areas for about 150 beds, on‑site medical and behavioral health clinic spaces, a kitchen and cafeteria, library and computer lab spaces, outdoor locker storage, dog kennels and walking areas, administrative offices and outdoor seating. The county intends the facility to operate as a structured campus (Graham said it will be drug‑ and alcohol‑free) with 24‑hour security, cameras and a community hotline for neighbor concerns.

Graham said the county already owns the selected property, which was a major factor in site selection. She told residents renovating an existing building was considered but can cost as much as new construction and that locating the center near transit and services helps clients access resources critical to leaving homelessness.

Robert Barnett, senior program manager with the county’s mental health and homelessness division, added a financial frame: "We recently had the Orange County corrections department run a cost analysis, and it came back that the average cost per day to house one homeless person was a $180 per day. Conversely, to house someone in a housing navigation center, it's $40," Barnett said, arguing that the difference can translate into long‑term tax savings by reducing incarceration and emergency responses.

Officials gave a broad schedule for the project: the county said an RFP for design consultants is underway, consultant selection is projected in early 2027, design could take about 12 months, and construction might begin around 2029 with an optimistic completion in 2030. County staff said timelines are subject to permitting, bidding and funding outcomes.

Graham emphasized the programmatic approach will include intensive case management, employment navigation and educational training to support residents’ transition to permanent housing. The county also plans to allow clients to keep companion animals, noting outreach found about 20% of people decline services when animals are not allowed.

Officials said they have applied for substantial federal funding that could offset a significant portion of the project’s cost; the session did not detail the precise funding mix or current committed budget beyond a question from the audience referencing a $26,000,000 price tag.

The county will host updates on an upcoming Goldenrod Village webpage and requested continuing public engagement as the project proceeds through design and permitting.