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0 <br />COMMUNITY <br />ACTION <br />11870 Monarch Street PARTNERSHIP <br />ORANGE COUNTY <br />Garden Grove,CA 92841 <br />February 15, 2022 <br />City Council <br />City of Santa Ana <br />20 Civic Center Plaza <br />P.O. Bo 1988, M31 <br />Santa Ana, CA 92701 <br />Re: Item 25: Strengthen Housing Opportunity Ordinance and Affordable <br />Housing Funds Policies and Procedures <br />Dear Mayor and City Council Members, <br />Born of the War on Poverty, Community Action Partnership of Orange County <br />CAP OC) has worked to enhance the quality of life here since 1965. Through <br />our broad network of community partners, we boldly address the root causes <br />of poverty and advocate for change through systemic reforms, social justice, <br />and racial equity. We live and work in the neighborhoods we so passionately <br />serve—coming together from all backgrounds and experiences to stabilize, <br />sustain and empower individuals and families so they may build stronger <br />communities. <br />Every two years, we conduct a Community Needs Assessment (CNA) to <br />capture the problems and conditions of poverty in Orange County. Our last <br />CNA conducted in 2021 determined the lack of access to affordable housing to <br />be a top concern for our respondents. With many respondents feeling as if <br />they were "one check away from homelessness". <br />We are writing to support the amendments to the Housing Opportunity <br />Ordinance and Affordable Housing Funds Policies. The changes will ensure <br />that development in the City addresses housing needs for all residents in a <br />balanced manner. Many working families in Santa Ana continue to be <br />impacted by the rising cost of housing and the scarce housing opportunities <br />available at rents they can afford. In addition, many continue to face <br />economic uncertainty because of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. The <br />creation of housing at all income levels is vital to our recovery and will provide <br />stability for the majority of Santa Ana residents that are struggling with <br />housing availability and cost that existed long before the pandemic. It is <br />crucial that the City strengthen the Housing Opportunity Ordinance (HOO) to <br />ensure that housing opportunities are available for all residents in Santa Ana <br />along with new housing options being created in the City. <br />0