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159 <br />SP-70 Anti-Poverty Strategy <br />Jurisdiction Goals, Programs and Policies for reducing the number of Poverty- <br />Level Families. <br />Poverty continues to be a significant challenge in Santa Ana. According to the 2016-2020 <br />ACS,13 percent of residents live below the FPL, among those are 16,437 children under the <br />age of 18 and 4,275 elderly aged 65 and over. To meaningfully address this challenge, each <br />of the goals included in the Strategic Plan supports activities to promote the availability of <br />affordable housing and the provision of essential services that directly benefit low- and <br />moderate-income residents. In the implementation of the Strategic Plan, the City will <br />prioritize funding for activities that most effectively address these goals over the next five <br />years. This strategy will emphasize using CDBG, HOME, and ESG funds to help individuals <br />and families rise out of poverty to long-term self-sufficiency. <br />The Consolidated Plan goals strive to reduce the number of poverty-level families. Those <br />goals are: <br />-Affordable housing development, maintenance, and preservation <br />-Code enforcement <br />-Public services programs <br />-Homeless services and facilities <br />-Economic development programs <br />-Public facilities and infrastructure improvements <br />In addition to these local efforts, mainstream state and federal resources also contribute to <br />reducing the number of individuals and families in poverty. Federal programs, such as the <br />Earned Income Tax Credit and Head Start, offer a pathway out of poverty for families who <br />are ready to pursue employment and educational opportunities. In California, the primary <br />programs that assist families in poverty are CalWORKS, CalFresh (formerly food stamps) <br />and Medi-Cal. Together, these programs provide individuals and families with employment <br />assistance, subsidy for food, medical care, childcare, and cash payments to meet basic <br />needs such as housing, nutrition and transportation. <br />How are the Jurisdiction poverty reducing goals, programs, and policies <br />coordinated with this affordable housing plan? <br />The goals of this Strategic Plan are aligned to benefit low- and moderate-income residents <br />to reduce the number of poverty-level families. For example, activities completed under the <br />affordable housing development, maintenance, and preservation goal will increase the <br />housing stock accessible to extremely low- and low-income households transitioning out <br />or at risk of homelessness. Implementation of this goal may reduce a household housing <br />cost burden thereby increasing disposable income and enabling opportunity to pursue <br />previously inaccessible choices. <br />EXHIBIT 1