• Donate
  • Subscribe
  • logo
  • logo
  • CITIES
    • Anaheim
    • Fullerton
    • Garden Grove
    • Irvine
    • Laguna Niguel
    • Mission Viejo
    • Santa Ana
    • Westminster
  • CIVIC NEWS
  • ARTS & CULTURE
  • OPINION
    • Norberto Santana, Jr. columns
    • Community Columnists
    • Community Editorial Guide
  • ABOUT
  • Donate
  • Subscribe
  • TRENDING TOPICS:
  • On OC Podcast
  • SB 1421
  • Veterans Cemetery
  • Tet Parade
  • Jailhouse Snitch Scandal
opinion

Aly: Create an OC Housing Trust Fund to End Homelessness

Jamboree Housing Corp.

A Jamboree Housing Corp. development in Anaheim, known as Diamond Apartment Homes, which has permanent housing and mental health services for formerly homeless people. Representatives of the OC cities' association and Orange County United Way cited it as an example of the type of housing that would be built under the 2,700 units plan.

By Mohammed Aly | June 12, 2018
19 Shares
Share19
Tweet
Email

Orange County’s homelessness crisis is actually a product of California’s soaring economy. When jobs are added to the economy faster than houses are added to the market, property values become inflated, mortgage and rent expenses increase, and so do foreclosures and evictions. The state’s economy has surpassed all but five nations’ in size. Unemployment in the state hit a record low. Orange County’s housing market is not keeping pace with demand. As rents increase, tents increase.

The cost of homelessness in Orange County is nearly $300 million annually, and $120 million of this burden falls on local cities. For all of California’s growth, Orange County is returned six cents of every dollar in property taxes that it sends to Sacramento. Homelessness, and homeless deaths, have not seen any decline in Orange County, despite regional efforts.

Source: Homelessness in Orange County: The Costs to Our Community, Conducted by David A. Snow and Rachel E. Goldberg

Source: Homelessness in Orange County: The Costs to Our Community, Conducted by David A. Snow and Rachel E. Goldberg

“Where There’s Will, There’s a Way,” an Orange County Grand Jury report released on May 31, 2018, recommends a plan to address the housing and homelessness crisis: “To streamline shelter and Permanent Supportive Housing development, the County and its cities should establish a decision-making body, such as a Joint Powers Authority, that is empowered to identify and allocate sites and pool funding associated with housing and supportive services for the homeless.”

Orange County’s entire delegation of state representatives agree with the Grand Jury. On the same day of the report’s release, Assembly Bill 448 was introduced, with Assemblymembers Daly (D) and Quirk-Silva (D), and Senators Bates (R), Moorlach (R), and Nguyen (R) as co-authors or sponsors. As the Grand Jury recommends, this bill would: “create and operate a joint powers agency to fund housing to assist the homeless population and persons and families of extremely low, very low, and low income… create and operate a joint powers agency to fund housing to assist the homeless population and persons and families of extremely low, very low, and low income.”

As Assemblymember Daly explains, the bill would “allow Orange County cities, the County of Orange, local businesses and philanthropists to pool their resources” in the Orange County Housing Trust Fund, and leverage these local dollars for increased state funding. This would finance construction of 2,700 permanent supportive housing units proposed by the Association of California Cities, Orange County.

By leveraging more local dollars to compete for more state funding, Orange County will raise the investment that it needs to address its homelessness crisis.

To send a letter of support, request a template letter, or inquire about this legislation, please email me at alym@ocpoverty.com.

Mohammed Aly is a lawyer and executive director of Orange County Poverty Alleviation Coalition.

Opinions expressed in editorials belong to the authors and not Voice of OC.

Voice of OC is interested in hearing different perspectives and voices. If you want to weigh in on this issue or others please contact Voice of OC Involvement Editor Theresa Sears at TSears@voiceofoc.org

 

THE TRUST PROJECT: About Voice of OC | Contact Us | Editorial Policies | Financial Disclosures

SUBTOPICS:
  • Opinion
  • Assembly Bill 448
  • homelessness
  • Mohammed Aly
  • opinion
  • Orange County Housing Trust Fund

RELATED STORIES:

  • Aly: Dear Tustin Legacy Neighborhood

    Mohammed Aly, a local resident and executive director of the Orange County Poverty Alleviation Coalition, writes that doing nothing about homelessness is no longer an option. Given the progress of a federal lawsuit on homelessness in Orange County, Aly argues that cities like Tustin, which tonight will consider approving for construction 54 affordable rental units and 60 permanent supportive affordable rental units, can no longer refuse to provide housing opportunities for low income people.

  • Aly: When Hateful Rhetoric Engulfs a Tent in Flames

    Mohammed Aly, a local attorney and founder of Orange County Poverty Alleviation Coalition, challenges Orange County Supervisors on their rhetoric toward the homeless, questioning whether recent statements by Supervisors Chairman Andrew Do and Supervisors Todd Spitzer have actually fueled violence against homeless individuals.


Free Voice of OC Daily Headlines Newsletter




DISCUSSION:

You can make your voice heard by commenting below. To ensure a vibrant and civil discussion, comments must follow our discussion policy. Comments containing links are automatically hidden. If you have questions or believe your comment has been incorrectly moderated, please contact Digital Editor Sonya Quick.
  • Voice of OC
  • About
  • Archives
  • Contact
  • Staff

© Copyright 2019, Voice of OC

Voice of OC is a member of the Institute for Nonprofit News

Built with the Largo WordPress Theme from the Institute for Nonprofit News.

Back to top ↑