Portrait at OC Rescue Mission

Portrait for a mother and daughter at OC Rescue Mission

Jason Leith gets the opportunity to create a portrait for two residents at the Orange County Rescue Mission OCRM. This mother and daughter were in recovery from a difficult set of circumstances, but they were embracing one another in the journey toward stability. Jason captures the unique pieces of their story in a way that they will be encouraged for the road ahead and to tell the story to others who are supporting OCRM. A painting like this timelessly captures the life change that organizations like OCRM are seeing every day.

 

If you’d like to have a portrait done of someone in recovery in your organization, please email jason @ sacred streets dot org.

State of Homelessness in Orange County 2025

State of Homelessness in Orange County

Over the past month, I’ve been ensuring that I’m up to date with the latest research and progress on helping people who living in poverty in Orange County. I’ve attended events and done a fair share of reading. Here’s some key takeaways of what I learned from dozens of leading voices.

State of Homelessness Address (from United to End Homelessness). Statements from Vincent Sarmiento (2nd District Supervisor), Katrina Foley (OC Board Supervisor), Tim Shaw (Continuum of Care), and more

  • Key Takeaway: As a “housing-first” advocates, their first goal is to simply get someone housed. However, long-term low income housing is short in supply, expensive to build, and slowed by delays among collaborating sectors. It costs more to serve someone unhoused than to pay for their housing.

 

Giving Guidance to End Homelessness. A panel discussion from the CEOs of Second Harvest, Illumination Foundation, and Families Forward.

  • Key Takeaway: similar to the above, they see the path as providing housing as a basic right, but wait times and delay in development hinder progress.

 

Americans with No Address Documentary. Film on the faces of homelessness and different approaches to helping across the United States.

  • Key Takeaway: The US Federal Approach to homelessness is not working (so-called harm reduction programs and lack of mental health care). The holistic care programs of Rescue Missions show hopeful results.

Video | Robert’s Life Change

Jason Leith’s creative process began with drawing live portraits on the sidewalk. See this process as Leith draws the portrait of Robert, a man who had lived life on Skid Row with a drug addiction for decades, and how it sparked life change.