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Part 1-C: Barriers or Trends Overview: <br />Even with the recent downturn from record prices, the Orange County housing market remains <br />one of the least affordable in the United States, and costs are showing signs of growth again <br />after peaking in 2007. Rental costs did not decline as housing prices did, and have held steady. <br />As of June 2009, the median house price countywide was $424,000 and the average 2-bedroom <br />apartment rent was $1590 per month. The amount of subsidy required to make housing <br />affordable is very high. For example, the average housing assistance payment for the HOPWA <br />rental assistance program was $910 per month. <br />The cost of developing and/or acquiring and rehabilitating housing units to reserve for this <br />population continues to climb. As Orange County nears complete build-out, vacant land is <br />scarce and primarily located in foothill areas, commanding top prices. Special needs <br />development, such as for the HIV+ community, is focused on rehabilitation of existing <br />structures and in-fill housing. <br />A trend identified through the City of Santa Ana's HOPWA strategic planning process, and <br />through the HOPWA-funded HIV/AIDS housing study of 2006, is the lack of affordable housing <br />for sub-populations such as the undocumented, ex-offenders, and the dually-diagnosed. Future <br />acquisition and rehabilitation projects will target these populations, where feasible. <br />Copies of the 2006 Orange County HIV Housing Plan and the City of Santa Ana Consolidated <br />Plan are available for public review at Santa Ana City Hall, 2D Civic Center Plaza, Santa Ana, CA <br />92702. <br />55 Draft 8/26/2009 <br />19F-61 <br />