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<br /> <br />May 4, 2022 <br /> <br /> <br /> <br />SUBJECT: Consent Calendar Item #62 - Support for WISEPlace <br /> <br />Dear City Council and Special Housing Authority, <br />The Kiwanis Club of Santa Ana would like to express enthusiastic support for WISEPlace and its <br />efforts to develop permanent supportive housing for women experiencing homelessness, some of <br />Orange County's most vulnerable citizens for whom there has been a longstanding housing <br />shortage. <br />As active members of the Santa Ana community, the Kiwanis Club of Santa Ana is pleased to <br />support this solution to ending homelessness through this development and wrap around services <br />provided by WISEPlace. Kiwanis is a global organization of volunteers dedicated to improving <br />the world one child and one community at a time. <br />The past 3 years we have been hands on and proud WISEPlace supporters. And as volunteers <br />who work directly with the population served, we have seen firsthand the power of housing <br />solutions and wrap around services onsite. For instance, during the pandemic, the Kiwanis Club <br />of Santa Ana provided stipends for wardrobes, and gift cards enabling mothers to purchase <br />Christmas presents for their children. In fact, our membership roster boasts a past WISEP1ace <br />Director. <br />The 2019 Point in Time showed there were over 6800 homeless residents in Orange County. <br />Affordable Housing options for women are a growing community concern. One in three women <br />make up this part of the homeless population with over 40% survivors of domestic violence. This <br />population of women endure high rates of first-time homelessness, longer spells of <br />homelessness, and higher barriers in accessing stable housing. Unaccompanied women also <br />report extremely high incidence of trauma—whether physical, sexual, or psychological in <br />nature—that is compounded by their ongoing houselessness. <br />The opportunity to create options for women on this site with so many community amenities will <br />provide a safe home for women for future generations. <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br />Foundation Federal Tax Exemption #95-6060395 <br />State Charity Designation #32071 <br />