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November 30, 2016 Mayor Miguel Pulido and Members of the City Council City of Santa Ana 20 Civic Center Plaza P.O. Box 1988, M31 Santa Ana, CA 92701 RE: Opposition — Amendment to Development Agreement No. 2015 -03 Dear Mayor Pulido and Members of the City Council: NeighborWorks Orange County is an affordable housing organization that helps low to moderate incomes families become homeowners and build strong communities through an array of educational and financial services. Since 1977, we have helped thousands of families secure and preserve their home through the most difficult housing crises. There is a current proposal by Heritage Village OC, LLC /Alliance Residential to amend Development Agreement No. 2015 -03, to delay their inclusionary housing in -lieu fee, as stated in the Housing Opportunity Ordinance. Per the ordinance, and as approved by the City Council earlier this year, the in- lieu fees are required to be paid before the issuance of the first building permit. NeighborWorks Orange County has worked closely with the Santa Ana community for 39 years and are well aware of the urgent need for affordable housing to address the current housing crisis in the city. This requested change is inappropriate policy and would significantly deter from creating affordable housing; we therefore strongly oppose approving the amendment to Development Agreement No. 2015 -03. The preservation of necessary policies, such as the Housing Opportunity Ordinance, are what make affordable housing possible in Santa Ana. As a Homeownership Center, NeighborWorks has partnered with the City of Santa Ana's Community Development Agency to bridge the financial gap for hundreds of deserving families to find a home through down payment assistance and the Neighborhood Stabilization Program. One such case involved Paul Ramirez, a sixth -grade teacher that grew up in Santa Ana who wanted to find a home for his wife and daughter close to their church. NeighborWorks assisted the Ramirez family for two years and in 2015 helped them achieve homeownership via down payment assistance and the Neighborhood Stabilization Program. 128 E. Katella Ave., Suite 200, Orange, CA 92867 1 (714) 490 -1250 1 F: (714) 490 -1263 1 www.nwoc.org