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Letter to the City Council RF,: Opposition — Zoning Ordinance Amendment No. 2020-03, August 18, 2020 Apartments. The First Street Apartments are 69 affordable housing units that the City of Santa Ana developed with the transfer of $10 million dollars of in -lieu fees from Heritage Village LLC. Likewise, the Amendment's proposed action to move the timeline of the H00 to approximately April 2021, is equally problematic because we are approaching the 6th Cycle of the Housing Element where the Regional Housing Needs Allocation ("RHNA") will increase due to the rising need for affordable housing, which has been punctuated by a worsening homelessness crisis, statewide. Indeed, the City of Santa Ana will need to meet an increased need in affordable housing for those who live in low-income communities, and that should be met through the HOO. For the forthcoming 6t' Cycle of the Housing Element, SCAG proposes to increase the City of Santa Ana's RHNA number to include 583 very low-income units. Because the number of units exceed the RHNA under the current 51h Cycle of the Housing Element of 405 very low-income units, and the City of Santa Ana will need to accommodate 360 units of low- income housing, it is important that the City of Santa Ana keep its program to develop affordable housing, the HOO, strong. Thus, the HOO, as is, would promote the construction of new affordable housing units during what is certain to be a boon for those searching for development opportunities in the City of Santa Ana, which would help the City of Santa Ana meet its forthcoming increased RHNA obligation. Additionally, the City of Santa Ana proposes to eliminate density incentives that we see helping towards the goal of obtaining more affordable housing, something the City of Santa Ana will need with an increased RHNA obligation and the need for more low-income housing.3 Thus, amending the HOO as proposed will undoubtedly jeopardize these goals. It is no secret that there is a great need for affordable housing in the City of Santa Ana and the lack of an adequate supply is a barrier to livability. The City of Santa Ana made efforts to meet the affordable housing need with the HOO as a policy to help promote and ensure the development of affordable housing for low- and very low-income residents. It is necessary that the City of Santa Ana continue to move forward in its efforts. The proposed Amendment to the HOO seeks to remove Cooperative Housing Programs as an eligible use and activity from the Affordable Housing Fund Policies and Procedures.4 The City Council must disapprove this amendment. As previously stated, the City of Santa Ana should explore ways to expand affordable housing opportunities for its residents, not reduce them, particularly amid the global pandemic of the Coronavirus, when shelter is a demonstrated need, particularly for the most vulnerable. In this regard, many advocates have used cooperative housing programs to create and preserve affordable housing throughout the country, reducing displacement among low- and moderate -income residents by retaining affordability even in rapidly gentrifying neighborhoods. Coupled with legislation allowing for the first right of refusal and opportunity to purchase, residents can retain their housing and experience supportive first- time home ownership. Public Advocates, Housing California and the Coalition for Nonprofit Housing and Economic development are just a few of the types of organizations that have advocated for place -based strategies as a mechanism to stabilize tenants and communities through strategies like Cooperative Housing Programs. Accordingly, no justifying reason exists to remove a resource that the City of Santa Ana can use to increase the supply of affordable 'Proposed Zoning Ord. Amend No. 2020.03 §41-1901(a)(2). ' Proposed Zoning Ord. Amend. No, 2020-03, Staff Report, Amendments to the Affordable Housing Funds Policies and Procedures (August 18, 2020), Ex_ 4, p. 7513-92. 601 Civic Center Drive West -Sant. Ana. CA 97701-4007 - 17141 C47-107n. Fo MAI a41-C1 C�