S S Community. August 15, 2022 City of La Habra Est. 1925 Administration City of La Habra*

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 La Habra disagrees with the finding. The collaboration Response between the County, the Orange County Continuum of Care (COC) and cities in Orange County has resulted in the creation of shelters and services that better address unsheltered homelessness. This is especially the case among the 13 cities that comprise the North Service Planning Area (North SPA), which includes the City of La Habra, that have worked collaboratively in recent years to address the issue of homelessness in the region. Some of the North SPA cities have contributed funding toward the construction of the Bridges at Kramer facility in Anaheim, and all have provided funding toward the construction and operation of the Navigation Centers in Buena Park and Placentia. Cities in the North SPA have also, both individually and collectively, funded homeless services and housing opportunities. More specifically, the City of La Habra has grown its local homeless outreach to include two Community Outreach Liaisons in the Community Services Department and a Homeless Liaison team in the La Habra Police Department who collaborate to provide services and outreach to homeless individuals in the City. Response to Grand Jury Report August 15, 2022

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 La Habra agrees partially with the finding. On a Countywide Response basis, Orange County has oversight of the Coordinated Entry System which streamlines access and referrals to permanent housing opportunities. Often individuals and families experiencing homelessness who are working towards a permanent housing option may experience delays and barriers in securing rental units due to a variety of factors. Because of the barriers to housing faced by these individuals/families, the County has invested in programs with equipped staff to assist in finding and securing units successfully. These efforts have resulted in housing-focused emergency shelters, increased housing navigation and unit identification programming, and enhanced supportive services to assist those in need to secure permanent housing. At the local level, the City of La Habra has initiated a pilot program to provide "scattered-site" permanent supportive housing (PSH) in La Habra. Under the program, the City contracts with Mercy House, a recognized leader in PSH housing options, to provide homeless support and PSH case management services. If successful, and if funding is available, the program may be expanded in the future.