County Superintendent of Schools Dr. Stefan Bean joined Supervisor Vicente Sarmiento and local leaders on Wednesday for the Small-Scale Housing Summit, an event focused on innovative solutions to expand affordable housing opportunities in Orange County.
Hosted at the County Conference Center in Santa Ana, the summit brought together policymakers, developers, educators and community partners to discuss small-scale housing models that can help address the region’s housing challenges.
In his remarks, Dr. Bean highlighted the close connection between housing stability and student success, noting that when families have secure housing, students are better positioned to learn and thrive.
“When we build housing, we build hope — and when we build hope, we build stronger communities and brighter futures for our students,” he said.
Drawing from his own experience as a refugee from Vietnam, Dr. Bean shared how access to stability and education shaped his path and emphasized the importance of creating similar opportunities for others.
“Because people opened their hearts and gave me stability and access to education, I was able to build a life of purpose,” the county superintendent said.
Supervisor Sarmiento thanked community leaders and partners for engaging in the cross-sector conversation, underscoring the role of innovation and collaboration in meeting the housing needs of Orange County residents.
Across Orange County, that commitment to creative solutions is also taking shape in classrooms.
Earlier this year, eighth-grade students from Nicolas Junior High School in the Fullerton School District completed construction of a second 192-square-foot tiny home designed to provide temporary housing for families experiencing homelessness.
The project, part of the district’s Tiny Home Project, teaches hands-on construction skills while addressing real community needs.