City of Orange Office of Mayor*

The County of Orange and cities within Orange County have been inconsistent in collaboration for support of shelters and services, which has resulted in missed opportunities to end homelessness. City's Response: The City disagrees partially with the finding, insofar as it applies to the City of Orange. The City, as part of the North Service Planning Area (SPA), has been proactive in its collaboration with the County and other cities to promote shelters and services yielding tangible results. The thirteen cities in the North SPA jointly fund two regional full-service Navigation Centers. In addition to 250 beds, services provided include health resources, job skill training, and the ability to reconnect with lost family. This North SPA partnership is guided by the proven Continuum of Care (CoC) model, which includes a process for recognizing issues and concerns, providing resources, and then offering a path towards re-integration. The City also partnered with HomeAid of Orange County to develop the Orange Family Care Center to provide services for families to obtain permanent housing and Be Well OC to provide services to individuals struggling with mental illness or substance abuse. The City Police Department's Homeless Engagement, Assistance & Resource Team (HEART) program has also been operating since 2013. HEART Officers engage daily with the City's local unhoused individuals, working with them one-on-one to help facilitate re-integration. Comparing 2019 and 2022 results of the County of Orange Everyone Counts 2022 Point in Time Summary, there is an 11.72% increase in sheltered individuals in the North SPA. Additionally, the count also concluded there is a 30.26% decrease from 2019 to 2022 in individuals identified as Unsheltered in 300 E. CHAPMAN AVENUE ORANGE, CA 92866-1506 September 21, 2022 the North SPA. Specifically in the City, the decrease in Unsheltered is 30.57%. The City continues collaboration efforts to support shelters and services.

There are an insufficient number of rental units available to those exiting Emergency Shelters, resulting in the majority returning to homelessness when leaving the shelters. City's Response: The City disagrees partially with the finding, insofar as it implies a failure to encourage and approve housing available to those exiting Emergency Shelters. The City has a long history of encouraging the development of affordable housing projects and several successful affordable projects have resulted. In fact, currently, there are several proposals for rental units available to those exiting Emergency Shelters. Specifically, Valencia Garden (637 W. Struck Avenue) is being built upon land sold to the developer by the City and constitutes 62-units of affordable housing, of which 20 units will be set aside specifically for formerly unhoused families. Additionally, Katella Terrace (1249 E. Katella Avenue) will be built upon land owned by the City and leased and managed by an affordable housing developer. Katella Terrace constitutes 74-units of senior affordable housing. Finally, the City is currently working with an affordable housing developer on the Villa St. Joseph project (480 S. Batavia), constituting 50-units of affordable housing, of which 18 would be supportive housing reserved for individuals that are homeless or at-risk of homelessness who are Mental Health Services Act eligible earning at or below 30% Area Median Income (AMI). 31 units of this project would be reserved for low-income seniors earning at or below 60% AMI, and 1 managerial unit. The City is also proud to have approved the La Veta Affordable Housing Project, constituting 6-units of affordable housing, which will specifically serve those exiting HomeAid Orange County's Family Care Center. Looking to the future, with funding from the County and/or State to assist the private sector development, the City will continue to support the development of rental units available to those exiting Emergency Shelters.