WHEREAS, for over 30 years, the National Coalition for the Homeless and National Student Campaign against Hunger and Homelessness have sponsored National Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week; and WHEREAS, the campaign’s goal is to educate the public about the many reasons people are hungry and homeless, including the shortage of affordable housing in Orange County for very low-income residents; and to encourage support for homeless assistance service providers as well as community service opportunities for students and school service organizations; and WHEREAS, hunger, food, nutritional insecurity, and poverty are issues of vital concern in California, where over 4 million people face hunger and one in every 8 children does not know where their next meal will come from; and WHEREAS, nutrition is the key to our community’s well-being, and steady, consistent access to nutritious food increases food security and helps build more resiliency for adults and children; and WHEREAS, the County’s three top causes of homelessness are related to employment, housing costs and family issues; and WHEREAS, there are many non-profit and faith-based organizations committed to sheltering and providing supportive services as well as meals and foods supplies to people experiencing homelessness, including Bracken’s Kitchen, Families Forward, Trellis, Mercy House, Lighthouse Church, City Net, SPIN, Someone Cares Soup Kitchen, Share Our Selves, Project Hope Alliance, and United to End Homelessness; and WHEREAS, the City of Costa Mesa recognizes that hunger and homelessness continue to be a serious problem for many individuals and families in the community; and WHEREAS, the City of Costa Mesa has demonstrated an unwavering commitment to its most vulnerable residents by addressing quality-of-life issues and collaborating with community partners to ensure that all who seek help are met with compassionate and comprehensive support services.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, John B. Stephens, Mayor of the City of Costa Mesa, do hereby proclaim November 12-20, 2022, as Hunger & Homelessness Awareness Week. I encourage all Costa Mesa residents to join us in ending hunger and homelessness by participating and supporting all the local organization’s efforts to prevent hunger among individuals and families, thereby strengthening the community in which we live.
PRESENTED this 15th day of November 2022.
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John B. Stephens, Mayor of the City of Costa Mesa