California 92648 Mike Posey Mayor September 18, 2018 The Honorable Charles Margines Presiding Judge of the Superior*

Homelessness in Orange County is a regional problem requiring regional approaches and solutions. Response: The City of Huntington Beach 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 Huntington Beach agrees in part with the above finding. Each City currently has responsibility for creating affordable housing through the State and units created include Permanent Supportive Housing. The City does agree there is a need for additional Permanent Supportive Housing units. However, funding is the issue, not a regional plan. 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. On July 16, 2018, the City Council supported ACC-OC's efforts regarding the Countywide Homeless Trust Fund for permanent supportive housing. TELEPHONE (714) 536-5553 Anjo, Japan Manly, Australia FAX (714) 536-5233 The Honorable Charles Margines September 18, 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 Huntington Beach disagrees partially with the above finding. The City of Huntington Beach is fully committed to partnering with the County and its fellow municipalities to produce Permanent Supportive Housing, Bridge and Transitional Housing Units. The City of Huntington Beach is a member of the Association of California Cities - Orange County (ACC- OC) and, as such, is a member of the ACCOC Homelessness Task Force. On July 16, 2018, the City Council supported ACC-OC's efforts regarding the Countywide Homeless Trust Fund for 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.

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 Huntington Beach strongly disagrees with the above finding. Under the Director of Care Coordination, Susan Price, has done an outstanding job of binging together the Service Planning Areas to discuss regional opportunities and to share "Best Practices". Due to the high number of attendees, it shows that there was a true need for the meetings. Based upon these regional meeting, the City of Huntington Beach is exploring multiple permanent supportive housing, bridge housing and transitional housing opportunities within the Central Service Planning Area.

NIMBYism has impeded the creation of housing for the homeless, including Permanent Supportive Housing, in the County of Orange. Response: The City of Huntington Beach cannot comment on other cities within the County; however, the City of Huntington Beach disagrees with the above finding. The City of Huntington Beach is exploring multiple permanent supportive housing opportunities. We are actively seeking out potential housing sites with numerous non-profits.

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 Huntington Beach disagrees partially with the above finding. The City is fully committed to collaborating with the County and its fellow municipalities to produce Permanent Supportive Housing, Bridge and Transitional units. In addition, the City is currently working to create new Bridge/Traditional units to assist with the flow from Shelter to Permanent Supportive Housing. The City is working with the County, non-profits and the City of Westminster to create, finance and maintain the units. We are hopeful that the new infusion of $500 million in HEAP funds will help significantly. The Honorable Charles Margines September 18, 2018

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 Huntington Beach disagrees 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. Huntington Beach, however, has a Housing Authority and directly manages Federal CDBG and HOME grants as an entitlement city, whereas 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. As stated above, the City of Huntington Beach is fully committed to collaborating with the County and its fellow municipalities to produce Permanent Supportive Housing units and we are currently exploring multiple opportunities with the County to facilitate new units within the next year.

There is no established, independent leadership body in the County empowered to address regional homeless issues in an effective manner. Response: The City of Huntington Beach strongly disagrees 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. The City is an active participant in the Central Service Planning Area and is working extensively with the County to identify funding and sites to create additional permeant supportive housing and maintain the resources available through the County's Continuum of Care.