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Orange County United Way August 18, 2020 Santa Ana City Council 22 Civic Center Plaza Santa Ana, CA 92701 10012 Mitchell South 949.660.7600 Irvine, CA 92614 UnitedWayOC.org Re: OPPOSITION to Housing Opportunity Ordinance Amendments Honorable Mayor and Members of the Santa Ana City Council, 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. Orange County United Way writes to express our strong opposition to amending the Housing Opportunity Ordinance ("H00") as proposed. Working families continue to face economic uncertainty because of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, and it is crucial that Santa Ana preserve its Housing Opportunity Ordinance (H00) as a policy for creating new affordable housing opportunities. The creation of housing at all income levels is vital to our recovery from this pandemic. These amendments will compromise the city�s ability to reach its Housing Element goals and requirements in the upcoming Sixth Cycle Housing Element, and we urge the City Council to vote against them. Among others, a proposed amendment would reduce the in -lieu fee from $15 to $5. Santa Ana must retain a $15 in -lieu fee and secure this funding source, as the city risks losing state and federal housing matching funds. The proposed amendments allow for the use of inclusionary housing for'one-time programs for code enforcement, and quality of life, and general health and safety activities'. Such an amendment goes against the purpose of the H00. Since its inception, the H00 has been clear in its language and purpose, in that it states "Monies deposited into the inclusionary housing fund must be used to increase and improve the supply ofhousing affordable to moderate, low, very low, and extremely low income housings in the city..." (Sec. 41- 1909. (a)(1)). For all of these reasons, Orange County United Way urges you to vote against the proposal. Please do not hesitate to contact me with any questions or concerns at michellemPunitedwayoc.org or 949-870-6090. Sincerely, ✓Illu[�� °rfy �`` Michelle Murphy, MSW Director, Public Affairs WE FIGHT FOR THE EDUCATION, HEALTH, HOUSING AND FINANCIAL STABILITY OF EVERY PERSON IN ORANGE COUNTY.