HomeMy WebLinkAbout2 - PUBLIC COMMENT_AdamsFrom:Soto, Ricardo
To:Bernal, Sarah
Cc:McCann, Melanie
Subject:FW: OC United Way Housing Element Public Comment
Date:Monday, November 09, 2020 5:25:27 PM
Attachments:Santa Ana Housing Element 11.9.20.pdf
FYI
From: Kimberly Adams <KimberlyA@UnitedWayOC.org>
Sent: Monday, November 09, 2020 5:24 PM
To: New General Plan <NewGeneralPlan@santa-ana.org>
Subject: OC United Way Housing Element Public Comment
Santa Ana Planning Commission;
Attached please find Orange County United Way’s public comment for tonight’s Housing Element
meeting, which we would appreciate being read into the record.
Thank you very much,
-Kimberly
Kimberly Adams
Housing Advocacy Program Manager, United to End Homelessness
Orange County United Way
18012 Mitchell South, Irvine, CA 92614
Email: KimberlyA@UnitedWayOC.org
Phone: 949.263.6140
November 9, 2020 The City of Santa Ana Planning Commission
City Council Chamber 22 Civic Center Plaza Santa Ana, CA 92701 RE: Housing Element Dear Santa Ana Planning Commissioners:
United to End Homelessness supports and advocates for permanent supportive and affordable housing in Orange County in order to address the needs of the homeless and underserved in the community. Your Housing Element decisions now are critical in addressing the issue in the future, and we are appreciative of your careful attention to this matter. We hope that tonight, you will take the great need for affordable and permanent supportive housing into consideration as you conduct your planning session. It is important that
the City prioritize the development of new affordable homes for very low- and low-income families within the 6th cycle Housing Element update. Orange County United Way is committed to improving opportunities for all community members. We envision an Orange County where every person receives a quality education, is financially stable, is healthy
and thriving and has a place to call home. Housing affordability is a persistent and growing challenge throughout Orange County for families, veterans, seniors, and individuals as home and rent prices continue to climb. Households have to spend over 30% of their income on housing, and a growing number are spending more than 50% of their income on housing. As incomes are decreasing and jobs are being lost,
many low income families are struggling to remain housed. This is especially true for the majority of Santa Ana’s low-income households that are suffering from the impacts of housing costs and economic uncertainty, particularly during this Pandemic.
We look forward to working with the City of Santa Ana to encourage positive, effective housing policies that
will help provide balanced housing development and create much-needed affordable housing in our local communities. Please feel free to reach out to me at MichelleM@UnitedWayOC.org or our Housing Advocacy Program Manager, Kimberly Adams, with any questions you may have. She is available at kimberlya@unitedwayoc.org or 714.325.5303. Thank you again for your thoughtful leadership.
Sincerely,
Michelle Murphy, MSW Director, Public Affairs