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WELCOME TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD <br />SUMMARY <br />Group homes are an important component in the healthcare and/or recovery of many <br />- people. -These -homes provide, among other things, Substance Recovery, Hospice Care, <br />Residential Care for the Elderly, and Sober Living. When group homes are operated for <br />the well-being of.their residents and with respect for their neighbors, they can be an <br />- — ----asset to their -host community. However, they can occasionally become disruptive and <br />the motivation_for.nuisance.calls to local code enforcement. In extreme cases, the <br />- - "curbing" -of residents can contribute to the homeless population. <br />Negative interactions with disruptive group homes often lead to neighborhood <br />opposition and anger towards city officials. How cities respond to the anger of their <br />--constituents-impacts-their.ability to successfully integrate group homes. Residents are <br />-- _ - more likely to -respond positively when cities offer townhall style meetings with police, <br />fire, code_ enforcement, legal, -and subject matter expert involvement, especially where <br />- the-subject--is-discussed-objectively, and public input is encouraged and respected. <br />Issues and concerns. neighborhood residents have with group homes stem primarily <br />from an over -concentration, of homes in residential areas. Multiple cities in Orange <br />County have attempted to manage integration of group homes into neighborhoods by <br />enacting ordinances that include setting a minimum distance between group homes to <br />avoid the -problems _associated with over -concentration. Most cities with such <br />ordinances have not enforced them due to the fear of incurring litigation costs. <br />--------- TheGrandJury reviewed the challenges of successfully integrating group homes into <br />- -neighborhoods, including pressures exerted on Orange County cities by residents, <br />group home operators, and <br />State of California. <br />-The_State-of California -has recently joined the group home debate, has altered the <br />_-conversation, .and -raised the.stakes. The State wields a large club with its power of <br />-approval of -the required. -Housing Element. The California Housing and Community <br />Develop- ent_Department(HCD) is withholding approval for cities that have ordinances <br />attempting to. place-limits.or impose oversight on group homes. Cities are then <br />:...Vulnerable to.a loss of. - control over zoning and permitting, as well as loss of State and <br />regional funding. <br />Some cities have_ decided to push back on the pressures put on them from HCD and the <br />.fight has been carried out on an individual city basis. The Orange County Grand Jury <br />_ x .recommends that the .County of Orange and cities join forces to create ordinances, pool <br />- - resources for defense -of -lawsuits, and work together to generate awareness among <br />legislators -to improve, -regulations and management standards to ensure health and <br />safety for group home residents. <br />ORANGE COUNTY GRAND JURY 2022 12023 Page 3 of 42 <br />