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 Irvine disagrees partially with this finding. Irvine agrees that the County of Orange and cities within the county must maintain communication and work collaboratively to identify and implement projects to provide support of shelters and services. To that end, the City has and will remain willing to meet with the County and with other cities on these issues.

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 Irvine disagrees partially with this finding. Irvine agrees that there are an insufficient number of available affordable rental units, supportive housing rental units, transitional housing rental units, and housing vouchers for people exiting Emergency Shelters. The City also believes that a greater allocation of qualified Mental Health resources would facilitate successful shelter exist from homelessness into housing. The City of Irvine is committed to the development of affordable rental housing for a range of households, including those exiting homelessness. There are over 5,000 deed-restricted affordable housing units located in Irvine. Unfortunately, less than three percent of those units are vacant at any one time and even the affordable rents often exceed the amount a homeless person can pay. The County’s Emergency Housing Voucher (EHV) program is making an impact. The City is also collaborating with Families Forward, utilizing ESG-CV funds, to introduce a landlord incentive program that offers up-front cash incentives and unit turnover reimbursements to landlords accepting EHV households.