HomeMy WebLinkAbout2 - Public Comment_OC UNITED WAY
March 3, 2022 TO: Historical Resource Commission RE: Support for WISEPlace Housing Initiative Orange County United Way (OCUW) writes today to express our support for the WISEPlace Supportive Housing development with Jamboree that is under consideration. This proposal would contribute 47 units of high-quality Permanent Supportive Housing (PSH) studio units to help end our county's homelessness crisis and one apartment for the onsite property manager. This development is meeting a crucial and growing need in our community for an extremely vulnerable population: unaccompanied women who have found themselves experiencing homelessness. Around a third of the homeless population in Orange County are women and according to the UCI report “Homelessness in Orange County: The Costs to Our Community” the second highest reason that women become homeless in our community is because they are fleeing domestic violence. WISEPlace has been serving the community for almost one hundred years and are expertly situated to provide the unique tailored support services that this special population requires. Their partnership with Jamboree, a well-established and trusted developer is sure to lead to both a beautiful and successful development that will lead to transformed lives. In 2018, OCUW launched United to End Homelessness, a powerful collaboration among Orange County’s top business, philanthropic, government, faith-based, and non-profit leaders committed to ending homelessness and ensuring housing and services are available for every individual who may need them. United to End Homelessness has been an influential voice in advocating for housing as the solution to end homelessness, and OCUW has always supported and maintained that affordable, stable housing is the building block to success. Thank you for your approval of the WISEPlace Supportive Housing development. We are grateful to you for your courage and willingness to improve the lives of those in-need in our community. Sincerely, Susan B. Parks President & CEO