How is Orange County Addressing Homelessness?*

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. Response: The City of Garden Grove disagrees partially with the above finding. The City of Garden Grove is fully committed to collaborating with the County and its fellow municipalities to support homeless shelters and services. The City works and supports the efforts of the Orange County Commission to End Homelessness and has been a member of the Commission since 2020. The City of Garden Grove is also a member of the Orange County Housing Trust and a member of the ACCOC Homelessness Task Force. Garden Grove Mayor Steve Jones has served on the United Way's "United to End Homelessness" Leadership Council since 2018. In July 2022, the City executed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Cities of Fountain Valley and Westminster to develop a navigation center in the Central Service Planning Area, and is currently collaborating with the County on this effort. The City also collaborates regularly with the County regarding homeless services programs, including: participating in the Orange County Emergency Solutions Grant Collaborative; collaboration with the County on the Be-Well OC in Garden Grove Mobile Response Unit; and through administration of the Garden Grove Housing Authority, one of only four in the County, which administers Section 8 housing vouchers, Emergency housing vouchers and Mainstream housing vouchers that 11222 Acacia Parkway • P.O. Box 3070 • Garden Grove, CA 92842 ggcity.org provide increased financial stability to homeless individuals and individuals at risk of becoming homeless. In addition, Garden Grove staff participated in the Orange County Mental Health Crisis Response Continuum Forum hosted at Freedom Hall Mile Square Park in July 2021 and the City's GGPD Special Resources Team regularly collaborates with the County mobile crisis assessment (CAT) team to address homelessness and identify shelter solutions.

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. Response: The City of Garden Grove agrees with the above finding.