HomeMy WebLinkAboutItem No. 1 Public Comment_SECOND BAPTIST CHURCH
Sharing Christ • Building Believers • Caring for All
Second Baptist Church | 4300 Westminster Ave. | Santa Ana, CA 92703 | 714-741-0590 | @sbcfamilyOC
SUBJECT: Support for Density Bonus Agreement Application No. 2022 -01
Dear Planning Commission,
On behalf of Second Baptist Church, I am writing to express our enthusiastic support for WISEPlace and its
efforts to develop supportive housing for women experiencing homelessness, some of Orange County’s most
vulnerable citizens for whom there has been a longstanding housing shortage.
As active members of the Santa Ana community, Second Baptist Church is pleased to support this solution
to ending homelessness through this development and wrap around services provided by WISEPlace.
Second Baptist Church exists to glorify God by sharing Christ, Building Believers and Caring for all, which
leads us to our ultimate vision to demonstrate the love of God to every nation, generation, and situation thereby
fulfilling the Great Commission. The past 10 years, we have 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 the power of housing solutions and wrap around services onsite.
We are pleased to see the groundwork that has gone into exploring the existing WISEPlace location.
Creating 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 stable environment
where they can thrive.
The 2019 Point in Time showed there were over 6,800 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. 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.
This opportunity to provide affordable housing at this existing location can create a w elcome solution to a
growing community need. I am pleased to provide support.
Respectfully,
Kelita Gardner
Kelita Gardner
Executive Director of Operations
Second Baptist Church
May 4, 2022