Correspondence - #62 and HA#3 - Laserfiche WebLink

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May 6, 2022 SUBJECT: Consent Calendar Item #62 - Support for WISEPlace Dear City Council and Special Housing Authority, On behalf of Presbyterian Women, I am writing to express enthusiastic support for WISEPlace and its efforts to develop supportive housing for women experiencing homelessness, some of Orange County's most vulnerable citizens for whom there has been a longstanding housing shortage. As active members of the community, Presbyterian Women are pleased to support this solution to ending homelessness through this development and wrap around services provided by WISEPlace. At the time the homeless encampment along the Santa Ana River was brought to people’s attention and eventually cleared, Presbyterian Women became acquainted with WISEPlace and the great need for housing. The past 3 years, we have been very hands on, engaged as active members of our community and proud WISEPlace supporters and volunteers who work directly with the population served and have seen firsthand the power of housing solutions and wrap around services onsite. Presbyterian Women wanted to be part of the solution. The 2019 Point in Time showed there were over 6800 homeles s residents in Orange County. Affordable Housing options for women are a growing community concern. One in three women make up this part of the homeless population with over 40% survivors of domestic violence. This population of women endure high rates of first-time homelessness, longer spells of homelessness, and higher barriers in accessing stable housing. Unaccompanied women also report extremely high incidence of trauma-whether physical, sexual, or psychological in nature-that is compounded by their ongoing houselessness. The opportunity to create options for women on this site with so many community amenities will provide a safe home for women for future generations. Affordable housing is a resource to our communities that provides stability, community , and economic opportunity to our neighbors. We only have this resource if we build it. With so many rent-burdened and struggling to make ends meet because of rising rents across the state, this housing would provide a tool to help our community and provi de stability, and protection for our vulnerable residents.