CORRESPONDENCE - 75B - ADDITIONAL

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August 4, 2015 Honorable Mayor Miguel Pulido Honorable Council Members City of Santa Ana 20 Civic Center Plaza Santa Ana, CA 92701 RE: Proposed Changes to Santa Ana's Housing Opportunities Ordinance Honorable Mayor and Councilmembers, www.keunedyQommission.org 17701 Cowan Ave„ Suite 200 Irvine, CA 92614 949 250 0909 Fie 949 263 0647 The Kennedy Commission (the Conunission) is a broad based coalition of residents and community organizations that advocates for the production of homes affordable for families earning less than $20,000 annually in Orange County. Formed in 2001, the Commission has been successful in partnering with jurisdictions in Orange County to create effective housing policies that has led to the new construction of homes affordable to lower income working families. The need to increase quality homes that are affordable to lower income working households remains a high priority in the City of Santa Ana. The average asking rents is the City is $1,687, which is a 9 percent increase from the year before and rents are expected to continue to increase, l With lower wages that are not keeping up with rising rents, many renting families continue to struggle financially to live and work in this City. Approximately 60 percent of renter households are lower income' and 84 percent of residents field moderate- and low-income occupations that paid less than $53,500 per year.3 In order for rent to be affordable, only 30 percent of an individual's income should be used towards housing costs. Unfortunately, 57 percent of renters overpaid or spent more than 30 percent of their income towards housing costs.' The typical household size in the City is 4.4 persons per unit' and 43 percent of the City's renter households live in overcrowded conditions, 6 These renters typically double or triple up with other family households to make rent affordable. The current inventory of residential projects under construction or in the pipeline, shows that the around 3,000 units are currently planned in the City of Santa Ana. These developments will provide housing opportunities (in its majority) to moderate and above moderate income households. Considering the housing needs and development opportunities in the City we believe that in planning for development the City needs to consider how these housing opportunity sites will help it meet its housing goals and the housing needs of residents in Santa Ana. Peeling the Pinch? Local Rent Prices Hit a Record High, Qrangc County Register, humary 16,2015. ' City of Santa Ana General Plan FCousing Elemenk2014-2021, p. 14 , January2014. s City of Santa Ana General Plan Housing Element 2014-202t, p. 12 , Junnary 2014. 'City of Santa Ana General Plan Housing $Iement2614-2021, p. 20, January 2014. s City of Santa Ana General Plan Housing Element 2014-2021, p. 11 ; January 2014. ° City of Santa Ana General Plan Housing Element 2014-2021, p.20 , January 2014.