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www. kennedycommission.org <br />17701 Cowan Ave., Suite 200 <br />Irvine, CA 92614 <br />949 250 0909 <br />June 6, 2017 Fax 949 263 0647 <br />Mayor Pulido and Santa Ana City Council Members <br />City of Santa Ana <br />20 Civic Center Plaza <br />P.O. Box 1988, M31 <br />Santa Ana CA, 92701 <br />RF: 65A. Support for a policy and criteria for the allocation of Affordable Housing Funds <br />The Kennedy Commission (the Commission) is a broad based coalition of residents and community <br />organizations that advocates for the production of homes affordable for families earning less than $20,000 <br />annually in Orange County. Formed in 2001, the Commission has been successful in partnering and <br />working with jurisdictions in Orange County to create effective policies that has led to the new <br />construction of homes affordable to lower income working families. <br />We applaud the City's efforts to provide more affordable housing; and we support the development of a <br />policy and criteria for the allocation of Affordable Housing Funds. It is crucial that the monies in our <br />Inclusionary Housing Fund and Affordable Housing Asset Fund are used efficiently, these funds are <br />limited and they must be used in an intentional way to serve our population with the most needs. <br />The city is well aware of the need for more affordable housing. The 2014 - 2021 Housing Element draft <br />notes that 32 percent or 23,856 of Santa Ana's Households fall within the Extremely Low and Very Low <br />Income Category (Page A-14). Of these households, 11,370 or 15 percent are extremely low income with <br />a median income of $27,850 for a four -person household. While 12,486 or 17%, are very low income <br />with a median income of $46,450 for a four -person household. The Housing Element also notes that <br />"approximately 64 percent of lower income renters allocate more than 30 percent of their income towards <br />housing costs." (Page A-20) <br />The policy that is developed must include criteria for affordable housing that will ensure it is accessible to <br />our residents that fall in the Extremely Low and Very Low Income category. As the City moves <br />forward in allocating affordable housing funds today, and in the future, we urge the City Council to <br />support affordable housing projects that will be accessible to our residents with the most needs. <br />If you have any questions please do not hesitate to reach me at cesarcLdkennedycommission.ore or <br />(949)250-0909. <br />Sincerely, <br />Cesar Covarrt as <br />Executive Director <br />