Mayor Ross Chun*

South Orange County SPA cities lack low-threshold emergency shelters resulting in more homeless encampments and individuals living on the streets. The City of Aliso Viejo disagrees with the finding. The 2022 Point In Time Response: Count identified a total of 422 individuals experiencing unsheltered homelessness in the South SPA, down from 538 individuals identified in the 2019 Point In Time Count. This reflects a 21.56 percent decrease, which is in line with the Countywide decrease of 22.82 percent of individuals experiencing unsheltered homelessness. The City of Aliso Viejo has and will continue to provide outreach and diversion services to individuals experiencing unsheltered homelessness. AVCITY.ORG TEL 949.425.2500 12 JOURNEY, SUITE 100 | ALISO VIEJO, CA | 92656-5335 FAX 949.425.3899

Too many of the homeless who are severely and persistently mentally ill and those with addiction issues end up incarcerated instead of more appropriate placements. Response: Not applicable.

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. The City of Aliso Viejo disagrees partially with the finding. Cities within Response: Orange County have collaborated with the County of Orange, which has resulted in the creation of regional shelters and services to address unsheltered homelessness; however, efforts have focused on the Northern SPA and the Central SPA. The City of Aliso Viejo looks forward to continued collaboration with the County of Orange for shelters and services in the South SPA. In addition to regional services, the City of Aliso Viejo provides services locally to address unsheltered homelessness. The 2019 Point In Time Count identified one individual in Aliso Viejo experiencing unsheltered homelessness. With the assistance of the Orange County Sheriff's Department, the City paid all costs needed to reunite the identified individual with his family. The City also used CDBG-CV funding to purchase low-income housing for the creation of an Interim Housing Program. The program is in partnership with a local nonprofit social services agency, who subleases the property to qualified households at minimal cost.

There are insufficient number of rental units available to those exiting Emergency Shelters, resulting in the majority returning to homelessness when leaving the shelters. The City of Aliso Viejo agrees with the finding. There is a lack of affordable Response: housing available to those exiting emergency shelters, as well as an overall lack of affordable housing to the population at large. Individuals experiencing homelessness may choose to leave emergency shelters at any time, including prior to finding a suitable permanent housing option. Such action may reduce access to resources and services that assist individuals in securing permanent housing.

The Office of Care Coordination, in collaboration with the Continuum of Care Board, provides an effective community-based system of setting priorities to address homelessness, learning best practices, awarding and monitoring contracts, and overseeing a comprehensive system of care. However, the challenge of housing all our homeless requires much more. Response: Not applicable.

Transitional Aged Youth who age out of the Foster Care system are a vulnerable population that often become homeless and need assistance in finding housing. There are insufficient resources to adequately serve these young people. Response: Not applicable.