Homelessness
People experiencing homelessness is on the rise in our nation, state and city.
Ways to
get involved
Have questions about getting involved? Contact Scott today.
Initiative Leader
Crystal Clark recently stepped into the space as our Homeless Initiative Director. She is passionate about providing opportunities to people that have given up and inspiring new hope as they try again. It brings her great happiness to celebrate with them as they change their life! Crystal has been a catalyst of homelessness outreach in Costa Mesa for 11 years and Trellis has been lucky enough to benefit from her gifts and skills for 9 years as a volunteer and contracted consultant. Crystal has housed over 100 people and has been contracted in Costa Mesa for building a housing retention team. Her years of experience with some of the most sensitive issues and challenges of homelessness that are specific to Costa Mesa have prepared her for her role as our Homelessness Initiative Director.
Crystal’s previous experience in Behavior Health for a SAMSHA grant in addiction and RADT (Registered Alcohol and Drugs) through the state of California was utilized during her time working for Share Our Self in Costa Mesa. Crystal won the 2022 JUSTICE award at Share Our Selves for her work in advocation and tangible acts to help people experiencing homelessness get the opportunities they need. Crystal has maintained a working relationship with people experiencing homelessness in Costa Mesa for 11 years. She led Trellis’ Street Team under a grant from the city of Costa Mesa, then followed that successful year with a four-year proposal to be an outreach caseworker to the homeless on the City of Costa Mesa employee outreach team under contract to Trellis.
Crystal was raised in Costa Mesa, where she met and married her husband Troy of 32 years, and they then went on to raise her two kids who are now married and local to Costa Mesa. She loves hot rod cars and loves to drift anytime she can drive one! She previously owned one over the last two years and can’t wait to replace it. Crystal’s German Shepherd, Ruby, and Belgian Malinois, Dorothy, are her sidekicks of choice most of the time.
Director of City Challenges
Sam Ashurst recently joined our team at Trellis as the Director of City Challenges. She is excited to see the church be connected and activated to the challenges in their city across Orange County. She is passionate about empowering people and supporting them in their dreams. We love seeing her passion for evaluating where people need more support, coming beside them, and helping find those resources come to life throughout her work with Trellis. Her vision for a better, more unified Body of Christ that works together to serve those who need resources and a friendly face embodies the efforts and mission of Trellis.
Same graduated from Vanguard University with her Bachelor’s Degree in Interpersonal Communication. She then worked five years in Human Resources at the OC Fair & Event Center where she learned the power of meeting people where they are at, and caring about where they are going. For the last four years, she has been on the pastoral staff of Genesis Church. In this role, she learned the importance of community and the ability to walk with and restore dignity to the hurting. Sam has also blessed us with her volunteer work at our events and helped us execute major wins on Love Costa Mesa Day.
Sam and her husband Caleb of two years have a sweet puppy named Penny together that they love dearly. She loves to create art and experiences the most joy when she is in community and walking out life with those the Lord has put in front of her.
Love Costa Mesa Homeless Allies
- Fresh Beginnings Ministries
- Lighthouse Church of the Nazarene
- Second Chance Orange County
- Stand up for Kids
- Project Hope Alliance
- Someone Cares Soup Kitchen
- Share Our Selves (SOS)
- LOTS
- Building Futures
- Mercy House
- City Net
- Volunteer Organizations Network, Inc.
- The Crossing Church
- Grace Fellowship Church
- Cal Bath Renovations
- Newport Rib Company
- Doing Good Works
- City of Newport Beach
- Christ Lutheran Church
- Canopy Church
- Rockharbor Church
- Watermark Church
- Toast Kitchen & Bakery
- Lighthouse Community Church
- Dick Church’s Family Restaurant
- Fashion Furniture
- St. James Anglican Church
- First United Methodist Church