THE PERSON IN FRONT OF YOU
WANTS YOU TO HAVE A SAFE & AFFORDABLE PLACE TO CALL HOME
Be part of the movement. Be part of the message.
It started with a simple idea—everyone in Orange County should have a safe, affordable place to call home. The Person in Front of You has grown to be more than an awareness campaign. It is a call to action that brings partners and community members together to learn, connect, and help advance lasting housing solutions.
Through education, storytelling, art, and community action, the movement is raising awareness, encouraging greater understanding, and inspiring people across Orange County to become part of the solution.
WHO SOLVES HOMELESSNESS?
A traveling photography exhibit inspired by The Person in Front of You
Through black-and-white portraits, personal stories, historical milestones, and local data, WHO SOLVES HOMELESSNESS? traces the history of homelessness in the United States while introducing Orange County residents whose work, lived experience, advocacy, and compassion are helping shape solutions today.
As visitors move through the exhibit, these stories invite them to consider a simple but important question:
Who solves homelessness?
Experience WHO SOLVES HOMELESSNESS?
See how photography, storytelling, and history come together to deepen understanding of homelessness and the people helping shape solutions in Orange County.
Visit the Exhibit
Experience the portraits, personal stories, historical milestones, and local data in person. View upcoming dates and locations as the exhibit travels throughout Orange County.
Check back soon for the dates and locations of the traveling exhibit.
Bring the Exhibit to Your Community
Help bring these stories and conversations to more Orange County residents by hosting the exhibit at your workplace, school, library, gallery, civic building, or community space.
Spanish-Language Version
Experience the full exhibit in Spanish and share it with Spanish-speaking members of your community.
Explore the Research
Learn more about the historical references, local data, organizations, and contributors that informed the project and helped provide context for the stories shared.
Stay Informed. Get Involved.
The Person in Front of You offers more ways to deepen your understanding, take part in meaningful community action, and stay connected to efforts advancing lasting housing solutions in Orange County.
Attend an Event
Stay Connected
Learn More with FAQs
Follow the Movement on Instagram!
On December 13, 2025, The Person in Front of You movement came to life as hundreds gathered in Irvine for community aerial photo event.
FAQs and Talking Points
To help you feel confident in these important conversations about housing and food insecurity in Orange County, we’ve provided a few FAQs and talking points to get you started. If you’re asked a question and don’t know how to answer, you can always share the United to End Homelessness provides free, online Homelessness 101 Classes to open to the community.
Actually, the top three reasons in Orange County are:
- Job loss or insufficient wages
- High rent, eviction, or foreclosure
- Family crises, including domestic violence and death
Factors such as drug or alcohol use and mental health concerns rank below these top causes. * ‡
The real barrier isn’t lack of motivation, but the lack of affordable housing—72% of Orange County shelter residents completed the application requirements to qualify for affordable housing, but none was available. †
Hunger is a risk factor for homelessness—families often must choose between rent and food. In Orange County, 359,000 people (1 in 12) are food insecure. § ‖
Take Action
You can support long-terms solutions to ending homelessness by taking one of the following action:
You can participate in this year's campaign by downloading our social media action kit!
Sign our petition!
Spread the word!
Share our latest posts with your network on social media and encourage others to participate this week.
Click below to share our posts on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, or Twitter!
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Attend an event!
MEET OUR NEIGHBORS
Watch this video to hear from our neighbors who have experienced homelessness firsthand.
Share this video on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, or Twitter!
Facebook-f Instagram Linkedin-in TwitterThank You to Our Campaign Partners
Questions?
For more information about The Person in Front of You movement, please contact Carrie Buck, Senior Director of Community Strategies.