HomeMy WebLinkAboutCORRESPONDENCE - 60BApril 7, 2020
Mayor Pulido and City Councilmembers
City of Santa Ana
20 Civic Center Plaza
P.O. Bo 1988, M31
Santa Ana, CA 92701
• M M I S S 1 •
www.kennedycommission.org
17701 Cowan Ave., Suite 200
Irvine, CA 92614
949 250 0909
Fax 949 263 0647
Re: 60B: APPROVE PRE -COMMITMENT OF $3,904,341 OF AH FUNDS TO COMMUNITY
DEVELOPMENT PARTNERS AND MERCY HOUSE — WESTVIEW HOUSE PROJECT
Dear Mayor Pulido and Members of the Council,
The City of Santa Ana has taken decisive action in the last few weeks to respond to COVID-19 impacts, and we
thank you for the initial, critically important steps that have been taken to prepare the city for this crisis.
Lower -income families in Santa Ana are likely to bear the brunt of the economic impacts of this expanding crisis -
with significant numbers of workers expected to lose their jobs and find themselves unable to pay for high rent,
health care, and other necessities. This is a crucial time to continue investment in affordable housing development
For these reasons we support Community Development Partners and Mercy House's Westview House
project, which will include affordable and permanent supportive housing for Santa Ana's residents.
We strongly urge the City Council to support its residents by approving the pre -
commitment of $3,904,341 in affordable housing funds to Community Development Partners and
Mercy House for Westview House Project.
The Westview House Project will develop 84 new affordable units for residents in the City of Santa Ana. It is
especially important to highlight that 58 of these units will be three and four bedroom affordable units designated
for large families and 75% of the total units will be set aside for extremely low-income households at 30% Area
Median Income. These larger homes for lower income families are a growing need highlighted in the City's
housing assessments and analysis. In addition to providing much needed housing, Westview House Project will a]
provide a public pocket park and engage local residents to collaboratively develop community -enhancing projects
During economic downturns, investments like this one will ensure that housing is built, while providing hundreds
of critically needed jobs and much needed affordable housing.
Your actions can address urgent, growing concerns about housing and economic insecurity —while promoting
ongoing development of the affordable homes our residents desperately will need, during and after this crisis.
The Kennedy Commission thanks you for your partnership and all your ongoing efforts to improve quality of life
and expand affordable housing options for residents in Santa Ana.
If you have any questions please contact Cesar Covarrubias at cesarc@kennedycommission.org
Sincerely,
I;� Cesar Covarrubias
v Executive Director