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Children and Families Commission of Orange County Receives Prestigious 2002 ''Ruby Slippers'' Award; Building Industry Association Lauds Commission Plan to Provide Housing

Children and Families Commission of Orange County Receives Prestigious 2002 ''Ruby Slippers'' Award; Building Industry Association Lauds Commission Plan to Provide Housing

Published 12-31-02

Submitted by BIA

IRVINE, CA - In recognition for its efforts to provide families with the housing they need, the Building Industry Association (BIA) of Southern California, Orange County Chapter, presented its prestigious "Ruby Slippers" award to the Children and Families Commission of Orange County. In announcing the award, BIA singled out the Commission's strategic plan for programs aimed at relieving overcrowding and its multi-million dollar partnership with HomeAid Orange County to build shelters for families.

"We are honored to receive this award and turn the spotlight on the growing problem of homeless families and the need to give Orange County's children a secure place to live," said Crystal Kochendorfer, chair of Children and Families Commission of Orange County. "A founding principle of the Commission is the belief that providing stable, healthy environments are crucial ingredients for the future success of young children in school. Few things impact a child more than having a home."

"We are pleased to give this award in recognition of the work being done on behalf of families and children in need of critical housing," said Lynne Fishel, chief executive officer, Building Industry Association of Orange County. "The builders and developers of Orange County have long sought to recognize the kinds of solutions the Commission advocates in the hopes of ending the cycle of homelessness."

Founded by the Orange County Chapter of the Building Industry Association of Southern California in June 1989, HomeAid works to alleviate the homeless problem in Orange County. HomeAid Orange County has successfully built and renovated 34 shelter projects in the past 13 years and currently has seven shelters in the construction or planning phase.

As part of its overall strategy for getting Orange County's children ready to learn, the Commission has placed an increasing emphasis on the critical housing issue facing families. Since 2000, the Commission has supported HomeAid in recognition of the need to provide not only emergency shelter, but also transitional and permanent housing for families.

"It has been clear to the Commissioners that housing is as important to a child's development and ability to succeed in school as proper medical care and nutrition," Kochendorfer said. "We are encouraged by our early successes with HomeAid and hope it serves as an example to others in the community to join in similar partnership efforts to alleviate this problem."

Orange County's housing chronically falls short of the growing need, Fishel said. Residential construction declined steadily from 1999-2001, reaching its lowest level since 1993, while population and job growth steadily increased. In 2001, only one new home was built in Orange County for every three new jobs created locally.

According to the BIA, only 18 percent of the families in Orange County can afford to purchase a home at the current median price of $435,000. The California homeownership rate of 56 percent lags behind the national average of 67 percent.

The Building Industry Association of Orange County (BIA/OC) created the "Ruby Slippers" award in 1999, to honor individuals or organizations not working directly in the real estate industry. Nominees from nine categories are evaluated and winners are selected based on personal or professional accomplishments demonstrating an innovative or extraordinary commitment to illuminating challenges in the home building industry or solutions to crucial housing issues in Orange County.

Recipients are presented with the coveted trophy, a pair of ruby slippers encased in a glass box, and receive special commendation by BIA/OC leadership. The Ruby Slippers award was inspired by a 1999 Rose Parade float design sponsored by the BIA of Southern California, based on Dorothy's wish to return home from the Land of Oz.

The Children and Families Commission of Orange County was created as a result of Proposition 10, the California Children and Families Act of 1998. The proposition added a 50-cent sales tax on tobacco products sold in California and requires that funds raised be used to support education, health and childcare programs promoting healthy early childhood development from the prenatal stage to age five. The Children and Families Commission of Orange County is responsible for overseeing the allocation of tobacco tax revenues received annually from the State Commission. For more information, please see the Commission's website at www.occhildrenandfamilies.com.

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