Where There's Will, There's a Way: Housing Orange County's Chronically Homeless*

Homelessness in Orange County is a regional problem requiring regional approaches and solutions. Response: The City of Garden Grove agrees with the above finding.

The lack of a regional plan designating specific development goals for Permanent Supportive Housing contributes to an insufficient number of available units to house the chronically homeless. Response: The City of Garden Grove agrees with the above finding. 11222 Acacia Parkway • P.O.Box 3070 • Garden Grove, CA 92842 www.ci.garden-grove.ca.us Response to the 2017-18 Orange County Grand Jury Report re: Housing Orange County's Chronically Homeless July 25, 2018

Cities' reluctance to provide sites for Permanent Supportive Housing development has contributed to the overcrowded emergency shelters and an increased unsheltered homeless population. Response: The City of Garden Grove disagrees partially with the above finding. The City of Garden Grove is fully committed to partnering with the County and its fellow municipalities to produce Permanent Supportive Housing units. The City of Garden Grove is a member of the Association of California Cities - Orange County (ACCOC) and, as such, is a member of the ACCOC Homelessness Task Force. On May 8, 2018, the Garden Grove City Council adopted Resolution No. 9504-18 (Attachment 1) authorizing City Staff to participate in the ACCOC's planning efforts regarding County- wide permanent supportive housing. The Orange County Board of Supervisors has published its "Affordable Housing Strategic Plan", which provides a comprehensive, regional housing business plan that identifies both the number of Permanent Supportive Housing units needed as well as the associated costs of renovating existing units or building new ones. The City of Garden Grove anticipates (upon City Council approval) pledging its support of the "Affordable Housing Strategic Plan" and working with the County to implement its recommendations.

Service Planning Area meetings have successfully brought together city, county and non-profit entities to share information on homeless issues, but have not fostered decision-making or action. Response: The City of Garden Grove agrees with the above finding.

NIMBYism has impeded the creation of housing for the homeless, including Permanent Supportive Housing, in the County of Orange. Response: The City of Garden Grove agrees with the above finding.

Orange County cities and the County have engaged in blaming and finger-pointing, hampering the collaborative efforts needed to site, finance, and maintain Permanent Supportive Housing. Response: The City of Garden Grove disagrees partially with the above finding. The City of Garden Grove is fully committed to partnering with the County and its fellow municipalities to produce Permanent Supportive Housing units. The City of Garden Grove is a member of the Association of California Cities - Orange County (ACCOC) and, as such, is a member of the ACCOC Homelessness Task Force. On May 8, 2018, the Garden Grove City Council adopted Resolution No. 9504-18 (Attachment 1) authorizing City Staff to participate in the ACCOC's planning efforts regarding County- wide permanent supportive housing. The Orange County Board of Supervisors has published its "Affordable Housing Strategic Plan", which provides a comprehensive, Response to the 2017-18 Orange County Grand Jury Report re: Housing Orange County's Chronically Homeless July 25, 2018 regional housing business plan that identifies both the number of Permanent Supportive Housing units needed as well as the associated costs of renovating existing units or building new ones. The City of Garden Grove anticipates (upon City Council approval) pledging its support of the "Affordable Housing Strategic Plan" and working with the County to implement its recommendations.

Cities have taken a silo approach to developing Permanent Supportive Housing, resulting in inefficient leveraging and pooling of funds across municipal borders. Response: The City of Garden Grove disagrees partially with the above finding. Although state law requires Cities to enable the development of shelters and low- income housing by removing local regulatory barriers, the law does not require cities to acquire real property nor fund development of new housing or shelters. Except for Cities like Garden Grove who have chosen to enact its own Housing Authority and directly manage Federal CDBG, HOME, and ESG grants as an entitlement city, most other cities in the County must apply to the County for pass-through funding for social and housing programs as subrecipients. Welfare and Institutions Code 17000 makes it a County responsibility to provide public assistance to the indigent, and funding for social and housing programs is almost exclusively directed to the County. Consequently, the lack of funding available directly to cities minimizes their ability to take on a direct role in the development of housing and shelters. The City of Garden Grove is fully committed to partnering with the County and its fellow municipalities to produce Permanent Supportive Housing units. The City of Garden Grove is a member of the Association of California Cities - Orange County (ACCOC) and, as such, is a member of the ACCOC Homelessness Task Force. On May 8, 2018, the Garden Grove City Council adopted Resolution No. 9504-18 (Attachment 1) authorizing City Staff to participate in the ACCOC's planning efforts regarding County- wide permanent supportive housing. The Orange County Board of Supervisors has published its "Affordable Housing Strategic Plan", which provides a comprehensive, regional housing business plan that identifies both the number of Permanent Supportive Housing units needed as well as the associated costs of renovating existing units or building new ones. The City of Garden Grove anticipates (upon City Council approval) pledging its support of the "Affordable Housing Strategic Plan" and working with the County to implement its recommendations.

There is no established, independent leadership body in the County empowered to address regional homeless issues in an effective manner. Response: The City of Garden Grove disagrees partially with the above finding. The City recognizes the County's efforts in exploring solutions, including the creation of the Homeless Czar and Service Planning Areas. Response to the 2017-18 Orange County Grand Jury Report re: Housing Orange County's Chronically Homeless July 25, 2018