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Orange County United Way <br />January 19, 2021 <br />City of Santa Ana <br />City Council <br />20 Civic Center Plaza <br />Santa Ana, CA 92702 <br />10012 Mitchell South 949.660.7600 <br />Irvine, CA 92614 UnitedWayOC.org <br />Honorable Mayor and Members of the Santa Ana City Council: <br />Orange County United Way writes today to express our support for the Westview housing <br />development under consideration this evening. In addition to 85 affordable housing units, there is <br />a set -aside for 26 permanent supportive units for our unhoused neighbors. Never before has there <br />been a stronger desire to end homelessness and create housing in Orange County. <br />Housing affordability is a persistently growing challenge throughout Orange County for families, <br />veterans, seniors, and individuals, as home and rent prices continue to climb. Due to these rising <br />costs, households have to spend over 30% of their income on housing, and a growing number are <br />spending more than 50% of their income on housing. Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, affordable <br />housing was already a significant need in communities throughout the county. Given the <br />disproportionate impact the pandemic has had on working class families, affordable homes are <br />even more necessary as we look to rebuild our local economy. <br />In 2018, United Way launched United to End Homelessness, a powerful collaboration among <br />Orange County's top business, philanthropic, government, faith -based, and non-profit leaders <br />committing to ending homelessness and ensuring housing and services are available for every <br />individual who may need them. United to End Homelessness has been a powerful voice in <br />advocating for housing as the solution to end homelessness, and Orange County United Way has <br />always supported and maintained that affordable, stable housing is the building block to a family's <br />success. <br />Thank you for your approval of the Westview project. We are grateful to you for your courage and <br />willingness to improve the lives of so many. <br />Sincerely, <br />Michelle Murphy, MSW <br />Director. Public Affairs <br />WE FIGHT FOR THE EDUCATION, HEALTH, HOUSING AND <br />FINANCIAL STABILITY OF EMERY PERSON IN ORANGE COUNTY. <br />