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g]OCCORD STRONG VOICE FOR A FAIR ECONOMY December 19, 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 SUBJECT: First Street Apartments City Council Meeting, December 20, 2016 Dear Mayor Pulido and Members of the City Council: Orange County Communities Organized for Responsible Development (OCCORD) is well aware of AMCAL's affordable housing proposal located on First Street in the City of Santa Ana. We are writing to express our strong support for this type of housing which is needed now more than ever. OCCORD is a non - profit organization that has been working with low income families to organize and advocate for good jobs, strong neighborhoods and a better quality of life. Our organization works closely with residents throughout Santa Ana and there is a great need for affordable housing to address the current housing crisis in our City. We represent working families and immigrant communities that are in desperate need of decent, affordable housing. We are facing a housing affordability crisis in Santa Ana given the extremely high cost to rent, which is increasing each year, and home purchase prices that our residents can't afford. Because of skyrocketing rents and home prices, our families are forced to live in overcrowded housing and substandard housing conditions. Our families are extremely rent burdened, as most of their limited income (over 50 %) is used to pay for housing costs. We know firsthand the urgency and need for the type of housing that can be realized with First Street Apartments. We support AMCAL's proposal for several reasons. Given the housing crises, we need affordable housing to be developed now, in an expedite manner. AMCAL's proposal has already been approved by the City — unanimous approval from the Planning Commission and City Council. After two years of work, First Street Apartments is virtually a shovel ready project and prepared to obtain the tax credit financing to break ground next year. The rental units, 100% affordable to households earning 30% and 60% of the Area Median Income (AMI), including 3 and 4 bedroom units for larger families, which is greatly needed in Santa Ana and virtually non - existent in the Santa Ana housing market.