HomeMy WebLinkAboutItem No. 1 Public Comment_SERVE THE PEOPLE
SUBJECT: Support for Density Bonus Agreement Application No. 2022-01 May 3, 2022
Dear Planning Commission,
On behalf of Serve the People Community Health Center, I am writing to express 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.
Serve the People is a nonprofit Federally Qualified Community Health Center that provides medical, vision, dental
and mental health services for low income, uninsured and homeless individuals and families. We work closely with
Wise Place and have been providing health care services to their clients for many years.
As active members of the Santa Ana community, we are pleased to support this solution to ending homelessness
through this development and wrap around services provided by WISEPlace.
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 6800 homeless residents in Orange County. Affordable Housing
options for women are a growing community concern. One in three women make up this part o f 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 c reate a welcome solution to a growing
community need. I am pleased to provide support.
Respectfully,