HomeMy WebLinkAboutItem No. 1 Public Comment_ASSISTANCE LEAGUE
assistance league
Orange
May 4, 2022
Planning Commission
22 Civic Center Plaza
Santa Ana, CA 92701
SUBJECT: Support for Density Bonus Agreement Application No. 2022 -01
Dear Planning Commission,
On behalf of Assistance League of Orange, I am writing to express enthusiastic support
for WISEPlace and its efforts to develop permanent supportive housing for women
experiencing homelessness, some of Orange Count y most vulnerable citizens for whom
there has been a longstanding housing shortage.
As active members of the community, Assistance League of Orange are pleased to
support this solution to ending homelessness through this development and wrap
around services provided by WISEPlace. The past 3 years, Assistance League of Orange
has been very hands on, engaged as active members of our community and proud
WISEPlace supporters and volunteers who work directly with the population served
and have seen firsthand of housing solutions and wrap around services onsite.
Members of Assistance League of Orange find great personal value in supporting and
volunteering at WISEPlace.
The 2019 Point in Time showed there were over 6800 homeless residents in Orange
County. Affordable Housing options for women are a growing community concern. One
in three women make up this part of the homeless population with over 40% survivors
of domestic violence. This population of women endure high rates of first-time
homelessness, longer spells of homelessness, and higher barriers in accessing stable
housing. Unaccompanied women also report extremely high incidence of trauma—
whether physical, sexual, or psychological in nature —that is compounded by their
ongoing houselessness.
124 South Orange Street • Orange, CA 92866 • Tel. (714) 532-5800 • Fax (714) 532-5805 • www.alorange.org
assistance league
Orange
The opportunity to create options for women on this site with so many community
amenities will provide a safe home for women for future generations.
Affordable housing is a resource to our communities that provides stability, community,
and economic opportunity to our neighbors. We only have this resource if we build it.
With so many rent-burdened and struggling to make ends meet because of rising rents
across the state, this housing would provide a tool to help our community and provide
stability, and protection for our vulnerable residents.
We are pleased to see the groundwork that has gone into exploring the existing WISEPlace
location. Creating permanent housing for vulnerable women will create an important
solution that has never been specifically addressed in Orange County. A place where
women can live paying no more than 30% of their income in rent along with support
services to address their disabling conditions will create a permanent stable en vironment
where they can thrive.
This opportunity to provide affordable housing at this existing location can create a
welcome solution to a growing community need. I am pleased to provide support.
Respectfully,
Laura Daley
Assistance League of Orange
Program Chair