Your Road to Advocacy Starts HereWe have created this library to provide you with links to very important documents regarding homelessness and solutions for ending homelessness across America and here in Orange County.
Use these documents to educate and inform yourself so that you can educate and inform others. |
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Be Informed... Get Educated... Take Action!
"It is a capital mistake to theorize before one has data. Insensibly one begins to twist facts
to suit theories, instead of theories to suit facts." -- Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
to suit theories, instead of theories to suit facts." -- Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
Federal Legislation and National Reports
Regarding Homelessness
Home, Together: The Federal Strategic Plan to Prevent and End Homelessness, available at usich.gov, was issued in July 2018, covers Fiscal Years 2018 – 2022, and builds upon strategies and actions taken across multiple administrations and upon the previous federal strategic plan. United States Interagency Council on Homelessness
USICH’s mission is two-fold: To drive an efficient and effective federal response to homelessness; and to build and foster a national partnership at every level of government and with the private sector to reduce and end homelessness across the nation. United States Interagency on Homelessness (USICH)
This study suggests that a number of elements contribute to homelessness prevention and a number of promising prevention activities exist. The study identifies elements of community homelessness prevention strategies that seem to lead to reductions in the number of people who otherwise would become homeless. U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)
THIS IS A FACT SHEET FROM 2017 prepared by the National Law Center on Homelessness and Poverty. This fact sheet would be good for preparing to speak or blog about homelessness. THere are fairly recent ststistics and some causes and explanations surrounding hoe people become homeless.
During the 2013-to-2015 period, worst case needs for housing assistance persisted at high levels across demographic groups, household types, and
regions. Worst case needs are defined as renters with very low incomes— no more than 50 percent of the Area Median Income (AMI)—who do not
receive government housing assistance and who pay more than one-half of their income for rent, live in severely inadequate conditions, or both. Worst
Case Housing Needs: 2017 Report to Congress examines the causes of and trends in worst case needs, using the most recent data from the American Housing Survey.
regions. Worst case needs are defined as renters with very low incomes— no more than 50 percent of the Area Median Income (AMI)—who do not
receive government housing assistance and who pay more than one-half of their income for rent, live in severely inadequate conditions, or both. Worst
Case Housing Needs: 2017 Report to Congress examines the causes of and trends in worst case needs, using the most recent data from the American Housing Survey.
While many communities across the country are working to end homelessness, too few have adopted legal protections to help renters find, and stay in, housing. This report explores the links between housing instability and homelessness as well as the laws that can reduce housing instability. The National Law Center on Homelessness and Poverty 2018
NEW LISTING! Unlocking Doors to Homeless Prevention: Solutions For Preventing Homelessness and Eviction
This study is Your Way Home’s first endeavor to better understand how to more effectively prevent homelessness from occurring in our community. Through
our longstanding partnership with HealthSpark Foundation, we undertook this work in the same deliberative approach that we used when first forming Your
Way Home: by learning from others, reviewing our own data, testing pilot projects, and scaling what works. We hope that this report offers insight to other
communities that are also ready to start addressing homelessness prevention as an extension of their homeless crisis response systems; provides useful tips
for evaluating local systems and data; and highlights the innovative programs and services that so many other communities are already undertaking. Your Way Home Montgomery County and Health Spark Foundation 2018
our longstanding partnership with HealthSpark Foundation, we undertook this work in the same deliberative approach that we used when first forming Your
Way Home: by learning from others, reviewing our own data, testing pilot projects, and scaling what works. We hope that this report offers insight to other
communities that are also ready to start addressing homelessness prevention as an extension of their homeless crisis response systems; provides useful tips
for evaluating local systems and data; and highlights the innovative programs and services that so many other communities are already undertaking. Your Way Home Montgomery County and Health Spark Foundation 2018
This 2017 report from the American Public Health Association sets forth recommendations for federal, state and local policymakers and agencies to work collaboratively in funding evidence-based housing acquisition practices and supportive housing stability services as well as supporting future innovations in integrated services for individuals experiencing homelessness.
On a single night in 2017, 553,742 people were experiencing homelessness in the United States. For every 10,000 people in the country, 17 were experiencing homelessness. Approximately two-thirds (65%) were staying in emergency shelters or transitional housing programs, and about onethird (35%) were in unsheltered locations. Homelessness increased for the first time in seven years. The number of people experiencing homelessness increased by a little less than one percent between 2016 and 2017. This increase reflected a nine percent increase in the number of people experiencing homelessness in unsheltered locations, which was partially offset by a three percent decline in the number of people experiencing homelessness in sheltered locations.
This is an important document that the federal government compiles and releases yearly to estimate progress of individual Continuums of Care (CoC's) in cities and counties.
This is an important document that the federal government compiles and releases yearly to estimate progress of individual Continuums of Care (CoC's) in cities and counties.
This is the sixth report describing the Supplemental Poverty Measure (SPM) released by the U.S. Census Bureau, with support from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). The SPM extends the official poverty measure by taking account of many of the government programs designed to assist low-income families and individuals that are not included in the current official poverty measure.
I have spent the past two weeks visiting the United States, at the invitation of the federal government, to look at whether the persistence of extreme poverty in America undermines the enjoyment of human rights by its citizens. In my travels through California, Alabama, Georgia, Puerto Rico, West Virginia, and Washington DC I have spoken with dozens of experts and civil society groups, met with senior state and federal government officials and talked with many people who are homeless or living in deep poverty.
The following is a list of Continuums of Cares (CoCs) using HUD’s naming and numbering convention. It includes active CoCs that registered in the FY 2015 CoC Program Registration processes as well as CoCs that notified HUD of mergers as of April 4, 2016. If you have any questions concerning the HUD-defined CoC list, please contact your local HUD CPD Field Office.
This is a federal plan to end homelessness that was drafted by the U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness (USICH) and amended in 2015
This is Title 42 U.S. Code Chapter 119. This is federal law for homeless assistance signed into law by President Obama in 2012
DON’T COUNT ON IT: How the HUD Point-in-Time Count Underestimates the Homelessness Crisis in America
Crisis of homelessness and the PIT Count Homelessness remains a national crisis, as stagnated wages, rising housing costs, and a grossly insufficient social safety net have left millions of people homeless or at-risk of homelessness.1 It is important to have an accurate estimate of the number of people experiencing homelessness in this country if we want to enact effective laws and policies to address the homeless crisis.
In 1948, the U.S. led the world in shaping the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which provides, among other things, that “everyone has the right to an adequate standard of living…including the right to housing.” However, the following year, the 1949 federal Housing Act stated a goal of “a decent home and suitable living arrangement for every American family,” but that goal was never enshrined as a right for every American. National Law Center on Homelessness and Poverty
Through our longstanding partnership with HealthSpark Foundation, we undertook this work in the same deliberative approach that we used when first forming Your Way Home: by learning from others, reviewing our own data, testing pilot projects, and scaling what works. We hope that this report offers insight to other communities that are also ready to start addressing homelessness prevention as an extension of their homeless crisis response systems; provides useful tips for evaluating local systems and data; and highlights the innovative programs and services that so many other communities are already undertaking.
Record homelessness has strained the shelter system, exacerbating longstanding problems such as arduous intake procedures, hazardous conditions, insufficient accommodations for people with mental and physical disabilities, flawed code blue policies that fail to protect homeless people from dangerous cold weather, and the placement of families in shelters far from their schools and other social supports. These significant problems must be addressed.
This is a housing study performed by the Joint Center For Housing Studies of Harvard University. The study looks at national housing markets, homeownership, rental housing and housing challenges.
This June 2017 report published by the National Alliance to End Homelessness shows updated results of recent homeless counts as indicators of increasing numbers of unsheltered homeless people.
A very detailed and comprehensive analyisis by the National Alliance to end Homelessness. It is the 6th in a series of reports charting the progress of ending homelessness in the U.S. It is intended to serve as a desktop reference for policy makers, journalists, community and stat leaders.
A report card on U.S. homelessness for the year 2016 prepared by the National Law Center for Poverty and Homelessness.
President Trump has signed Executive Order No. 13768, Enhancing Public Safety in the Interior of the United States. While little is known about its interpretation or any accompanying guidance, here is some information on how Section 9 of the order could restrict federal funding to sanctuary jurisdictions and impact their efforts to serve people experiencing homelessness
Criminalization of Homelessness - Reports and Solutions
NEW LISTING! Scoring Points: How Ending the Criminalization of Homelessness Can Increase
HUD Funding to Your Community
HUD Funding to Your Community
For the fourth time since 2015, the annual Notice Of Funding Application (NOFA) offers additional points to communities that document the steps they are taking to combat the criminalization of homelessness. This report released on July 18, 2018, tracks applicants’ responses over the first three years the question has been asked. National Law Center on Homelessness and Poverty
On September 4, 2018, the Ninth Circuit Appellate Court agreed with plaintiffs in Martin v. City of Boise, formerly known as Bell v. City of Boise, that the city violated plaintiffs' Eighth Amendment rights when it issued citations for sleeping or camping in public under its Camping and Disorderly Conduct Ordinances.
This report – the only national report of its kind - provides an overview of criminalization measures in effect across the country and looks at trends in the criminalization of homelessness, based on an analysis of the laws in 187 cities that the Law Center has tracked since 2006. National Law Center on Homelessness and Poverty
This Note explores various California ordinances and their legal effects on the homeless population. First, this Note gives background information about homelessness historically and in the United States today and discusses the homeless population’s legal issues. Second, this Note discusses California statutes as they intertwine the homeless population and the legal system. Finally, this Note proposes two solutions to the homeless population’s legal issues: more housing for the homeless as a preventive measure and committed lawyering as a remedial measure.
Washington and Lee Journal of Civil Rights and Social Justice March 1, 2013
Washington and Lee Journal of Civil Rights and Social Justice March 1, 2013
This paper draws on experiences of cities and other government entities that have made measurable progress toward their goals in addressing homelessness while avoiding (or succeeding in) litigation. It is intended to give city attorneys a variety of tools to shepherd their clients through the process of responding to homelessness in their cities; adopting an effective short and long term strategy; and tracking the results of these efforts. League of California Cities.
This guide presents a case study of our lessons learned, as well as some examples from partners, to help others as they continue on their journeys toward domestic human rights implementation. The National Law Center on Homelessness and Poverty 2014
This litigation manual is offered as an advocacy tool for use as part of the Housing Not Handcuffs Campaign (HNH Campaign). Housing Not Handcuffs was initiated by the National Law Center on Homelessness & Poverty and more than 100 participating organizations to end the criminalization of homelessness and to promote housing policies. You can learn more about the HNH Campaign at www. housingnothandcuffs.org.
This report details violations of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) stemming from U.S. policy toward the more than 3.5 million people who experience homelessness in the U.S. annually. National Law Center on Homelessness and Poverty
This report outlines the violations of the human rights of persons experiencing homelessness—essentially the most extreme form of poverty—in the United States of America. The more than 3.5 million people who experience homelessness in the United States annually face violations to the full range of their civil, political, economic, social, and cultural rights, but especially the rights to housing and freedom from non-discrimination and cruel, inhuman, and degrading treatment. A Report to the Special Rapporteur on Extreme Poverty & Human Rights Oct. 16, 2017
NEW LISTING! U.N. Special Rapporteur Report on Extreme Poverty and Human Rights on his Mission to the U.S.A. 2018
This is a report submitted by U.N. Special Rapporteur, Philip Alston, to the U.N. Human Rights Council dated May 4, 2018.
This report outlines the violations of the right to privacy for persons experiencing homelessness in the United States. Article 17 of International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), which the U.S. has ratified, states “no one shall be subjected to arbitrary or unlawful interference with his privacy, family, home or correspondence….” National Law Center on Homelessness and Poverty - May 31, 2017
The Universal Declaration of Human Rights is a historic document that was adopted by the United Nations General Assembly at its third session on 10 December 1948 as Resolution 217 at the Palais de Chaillot in Paris, France.
This 2006 report from the National Coalition for the Homeless and The National Law Center on Homelessness and Poverty focuses on civil rights for the homeless and strategies that involve litigation, lobbying, policy analysis, public education, community organizing, research and by providing tecnical assistance.
This 2015 study performed by The Coalition on Homeless Human Rights Workgroup and the Cal Berkeley School of law reports on homeless criminalization in San Francisco, but can be typical to policies in other cities in the U.S.
This is a Cal Berkeley Law School study from February 2015 that looks at 58 cities in California that have enacted at least 500 different laws restricting standing, sitting, and resting in public places. Sleeping, camping and lodging in public places including vehicles. Begging and panhandling and food sharing.
In recent years, the United States has seen the proliferation of local measures to criminalize “acts of living” laws that prohibit sleeping, eating, sitting, or panhandling in public spaces. City, town, and county officials are turning to criminalization measures in an effort to broadcast a zero-tolerance approach to street homelessness and to temporarily reduce the visibility of homelessness in their communities. Although individuals experiencing homelessness should be afforded the same dignity, compassion, and support provided to others, criminalization policies further marginalize men and women who are experiencing homelessness, fuel inflammatory attitudes, and may even unduly restrict constitutionally protected liberties.
Despite the fact that communities all over the country lack adequate affordable housing and shelter space, cities are continuing to penalize people forced to live on our streets and in public spaces. Criminalization measures often prohibit activities like as sleeping/camping, eating, sitting, and/or begging in public spaces and include criminal penalties for violations of these laws. Report from THE NATIONAL LAW CENTER ON HOMELESSNESS & POVERTY
This report provides an overview of criminalization measures in effect across the nation and looks at trends in the criminalization of homelessness, based on an analysis of the laws in 187 cities . The report further describes why these laws are ineffective in addressing the underlying causes of homelessness, how they are expensive to taxpayers, and how they often violate homeless persons’ constitutional and human rights. The National Law Center on Homelessness and Poverty also provides constructive alternatives to criminalization, making recommendations to federal, state, and local governments on how to best address the problem of visible homelessness in a sensible, humane, and legal way.
The National Coalition for the Homeless focuses its work on four policy areas: civil rights of those who are without homes, housing that is affordable to those with the lowest incomes, accessible/comprehensive health care and other needed support services, and livable incomes that make it possible to afford the basic necessities of life. The strategies they use to implement our mission are: litigation, lobbying, policy analysis, public education, community organizing, research, and providing technical assistance.
California State Legislation and Reports Re:
Housing, Homelessness, etc.
SB 2, effective January 2008, amended California’s housing element law (State Housing Element Law) and California’s Housing Accountability Act (HAA) to require local governments to take specific zoning actions to encourage the development of emergency shelters and transitional and supportive housing. It also clarifies that under the HAA, a jurisdiction cannot deny applications for such types of housing and shelter without making specific evidence-based findings.
NEW LISTING! California Homelessness in Context 2017
This is a great resource for state and local homeless statistics, maps, definitions etc. Browse this report before you write an article or deliver a speech at your community group or club meeting or even City Council.
This is a report prepared by the Corporation for Supportive Housing for the California Department of Housing & Community Development. The report cites data and trends in homelessness for the state in 2017.
This report reflects back on the 2016-17 fiscal year (July 1, 2016–June 30, 2017), highlighting the accomplishments of HCD’s dedicated, mission-driven team, and the progress and improvements that raised the bar, so we can better serve Californians and communities throughout the state.
NEW LISTING! Mental Health Services Act: The State Could Better Ensure the Effective Use of MHSA Funding
As requested by the Joint Legislative Audit Committee, the California State Auditor presents this audit report concerning the funding and oversight of the Mental Health Services Act (MHSA). The report concludes that the Department of Health Care Services and the Mental Health Services Oversight and Accountability Commission could better ensure that the 59 county and local mental health agencies effectively use MHSA funds they receive.
After steady declines in homelessness from 2007 through 2014, the number of people without homes in California has now risen for three consecutive years. This is occurring not just in major cities and urban areas but also in rural California, in our heavily forested areas, along our rivers and in our suburban neighborhoods. Homelessness is no longer confined to our major metropolitan areas — it has spread to every part of our state.
This determination represents Annual Progress Report (APR) data received as of January 31, 2018, and will be updated at least quarterly to incorporate new or corrected data provided by jurisdictions. The following 13 jurisdictions have met their prorated Lower (Very-Low and Low) and Above-Moderate Income Regional Housing Needs Assessment (RHNA) for the Reporting Period and submitted their latest APR (2016). These jurisdictions are not currently subject to SB 35 (Chapter 366, Statutes of 2017) streamlining, but the jurisdictions are still encouraged to promote streamlining. All other cities and counties beyond these 13 are subject to at least some form of SB 35 streamlining, as indicated on the following page. Published Jan. 31, 2018
In this 2017 report, the California State Legislative Analyst Office reviews the available evidence to gauge whether housing elements achieve their objective of ensuring that local communities accommodate needed home building. Our review suggests that housing elements fall well short of their goal. Communities’ zoning rules often are out of sync with the types of projects developers desire to build and households desire to live in. As a result, home building lags behind demand. There are no easy solutions to this problem.
The California Tax Credit Allocation Committee (“Committee” or “TCAC”) administers two low-income housing tax credit programs – a federal program and a state program. Both programs were authorized to encourage private investment in affordable rental housing for households meeting certain income requirements.
Recognizing the extremely high cost of developing housing in California, the state legislature authorized a state low income housing tax credit program to augment the federal tax credit program. Authorized by Chapter 1138, Statutes of 1987, the state credit is only available to a project which has previously received, or is concurrently receiving, an allocation of federal credits. Thus the state program does not stand alone, but instead, supplements the federal tax credit program.
The California Economic Summit 2017 Action Plan. The Roadmap to Shared Prosperity outlines a non-partisan, inclusive path toward sustainable growth that is right for California—and that may now be a model for the rest of the nation.
This pamphlet concerns the provisions of the Ralph M. Brown Act, which govern open meetings for local government bodies. The Brown Act is contained in section 54950 et seq. of the Government Code. Accordingly, all statutory references in this pamphlet are to the Government Code unless otherwise noted.
If citizens qualify a local land use initiative for the ballot, local legislative body can: • Approve the measure • Order a special election • In both cases, project will be exempt from CEQA review because the Constitution trumps statutes.
On July 1, 2016, Governor Brown signed landmark legislation1 enacting the No Place Like Home (NPLH) Program to dedicate $2 billion in bond proceeds to invest in the development of permanent supportive housing for persons who are living with a severe mental illness (SMI) and are in need of mental health and/or substance use services and are experiencing chronic homelessness, or are at-risk of chronic homelessness, or homelessness. The bonds are repaid by funding from the Mental Health Services Act (MHSA) Fund.
The 2016-2017 Final Draft AHSC Program Guidelines incorporate feedback obtained through public comments and workshops held in April 2017 on the initial draft guidelines, which were released on March 8th 2017. These Final Draft 2016-2017 AHSC Program Guidelines will be considered for adoption at the July 17th 2017 Strategic Growth Council meeting.
In the last 10 years, California has built an average of 80,000 homes a year, far below the 180,000 homes needed a year to keep up with housing growth from 2015-2025. This lack of supply greatly impacts housing affordability. Low production hasn't always been the case.
This bill would create the California Interagency Council on Homelessness. This bill would provide that the council be composed of specified members and would authorize the council to perform various duties, including providing a state plan to end respond to homelessness.
1/31/14 Died pursuant to Art. IV, Sec. 10(c) of the Constitution.
1/31/14 Died pursuant to Art. IV, Sec. 10(c) of the Constitution.
This bill would authorize a housing successor to also use funds remaining in the Low and Moderate Income Housing Fund for homelessness services, transitional housing, or emergency housing services, as well as development of affordable housing.
Authorizes the state Department of Housing and community development to take specified actions related to housing that include, among other things, investigations of housing and community development in the state.
Housing successor may expend $250,000 a year for homeless prevention and rapid rehousing.
This technical paper is written to continue and provide guidance on ongoing questions and concerns regarding the accounting and financial reporting for the Dissolution of California Redevelopment Agencies (RDA Dissolution) and the resulting Successor Agencies and Housing Successors.
The basics of California Community Redevelopment Law.
The County of Orange, California
This is a one page annual report on renter's housing wage in California localities performed by the Southern California Association of NonProfit Housing. This years report shows a growing list of occupations that no longer pay enough in wages for employees to rent or own homes ranging from Hairdressers to Pharmacists.
This report is based on an 8 month Orange County Grand Jury investigation beginning in late 2017 and released on May 31, 2018. In the reports findings mentioned are descriptions of how the county and cities have engaged in blame and finger-pointing which has hampered efforts needed to site, finance and maintain Permanent Supportive Housing. Another finding reports that "There is no established, independent leadership body in the County empowered to address regional homeless issues in an effective manner."
This report was released by the Public Policy Institute of California in 1998. On December 6th, 1994, Orange County California became the largest municipality in U.S. history ever to file for bankruptcy. The financial difficulties leading to the bankruptcy were the direct result of an enormous gamble with public funds taken by a county treasurer who was seriously under-qualified to deal in the kinds of investments he chose. Because of his shortcomings, because of Orange County's national reputation as a land of rich, spoiled, archconservatives, and because the bankruptcy did not play out as other municipal financial crises have, many observers have dismissed it as an anomaly. It may have been a nasty surprise for Wall Street, they argue, but it is not something that is likely to happen again, even in Orange County.
These are the revised bylaws of the OC Commission to end Homelessness as approved by the Commission on Oct. 27, 2017. Motion carried with five "ayes", one "nay" and five abstentions. The Commission will recommend these bylaws as revised to the BOS for final approval on Dec. 5, 2017.
On a single night in January 2017, 4,792 people experienced homelessness in Orange County. Homeless people in Orange County are diverse: they are young and old, men and women, chronic and newly homeless, alone or in families. Despite their differences, each homeless person needs safe and permanent housing. The County of Orange recognizes that fully engaging in efforts to end homelessness requires a deeply involved community and accurate information.
NEW LISTING! Orange County Continuum of Care Homeless Count & Survey Report 2017 (PowerPoint Presentation)
PowerPoint presentation of the final report.
NEW LISTING! ORANGE COUNTY WORKFORCE INDICATORS REPORT 2017 - 2018
Orange County Business Council (OCBC) and the Orange County Development Board (OCDB) are pleased to present the 16th annual “2017-2018 Orange County Workforce Indicators Report.” This research highlights the central accomplishments of Orange County’s employers, educators and workers, the education and workforce training system, as well as remaining challenges that Orange County must address to close the skills gap and develop a highly-trained workforce for a competitive 21st century economy. Orange County’s trifecta of a high quality of life, a diverse economy, and a well-educated workforce has propelled the county to become a leading region in growth and prosperity.
This is a cop
United Way collaborated with the community to establish four goals to strengthen Orange County. With a focus on advancing the common good in the areas of Education, Income, Health, and Housing, these 10-year goals are to: Cut the high school dropout rate in half. Cut the percent of financially unstable OC families by twenty-five percent. Increase the number of healthy youth in Orange County by one third. Cut the percent of homeless and housing insecure children in half. Orange County United Way
HCD HUD $ 2.5 Billion $ 750 million State investment is a critical piece of the incredibly complicated financing that private developers must pull together to build housing affordable to hardworking families. But California is currently headed in the wrong direction. Elimination of California’s redevelopment program and failure to replace voter-approved bond funds with ongoing investment has left investment in affordable-home production at a record low.
May 2017 report by the Kennedy Commission. Cuts in federal and state funding, including elimination of State Redevelopment, have reduced investment in affordable housing production and preservation in Orange County by nearly $117 million annually since 2008, a 76% reduction.
From Monday, June 10 to Wednesday, June 12, 2017, Probolsky Research conducted a survey among Orange County, CA voters. A total of 300 voters were polled in a multi-mode survey. A survey of this size yields a margin of error of +/-5.8% with a confidence level of 95%. Interviews were conducted with respondents on both landline and mobile phones (65.3%) and online (37%). Probolsky Research specializes in opinion research on behalf of corporate, government, non-profit, and special interest clients. The results were published on July 14, 2017.
From Monday, June 10 to Wednesday, June 12, 2017, Probolsky Research conducted a survey among Orange County, CA voters. A total of 300 voters were polled in a multi-mode survey. A survey of this size yields a margin of error of +/-5.8% with a confidence level of 95%. Interviews were conducted with respondents on both landline and mobile phones (65.3%) and online (37%). Please refer to the following “Email Text” below in order to view the text of the email sent to respondents for the online survey version. Respondents were able to complete the survey in English or Spanish (4.6%). Our sample was developed from the voter files originally compiled by the Orange County Registrar of Voters and enhanced to add additional contact information. Probolsky Research ensured that the demographic proportions of survey respondents match the demographic composition of Orange County, CA voters. This report was published on July 14, 2017
Some facts about Orange County’s Homeless Population, impacts to Flood Protection/Flood Control conveyance, environmental Impacts, public safety, citizen complaints, and Jurisdictional disputes, Homeless Advocacy Lawsuits, and steps that the County of Orange and OC Public Works are taking to deal with these issues.
The Consolidated Plan is a planning document that identifies the Urban County of Orange’s overall housing and community development needs, and outlines a strategy to address those needs.
An Annual Action Plan is the annual operating plan designed to identify specific activities that Orange County intends to pursue through the Community Development Block Grant, HOME Investment Partnerships, Emergency Solutions Grant, and other state and local housing and community development programs, to address the objectives identified in the Consolidated Plan.
The FY 2017-18 Funding Allocation Policy and Process (FAPP) is a planning document that marks the third year of the FY 2015-19 Consolidated Plan (ConPlan). The primary purpose of the FAPP is to utilize priorities listed in the ConPlan to address local housing and community development needs with Federal and local resources in preparing the Annual Action Plan (AAP).
The primary purpose of the participation will be in needs identification, priority setting, funding allocations, and program recommendations related to the consolidated planning process. The County shall provide for and encourage citizen participation with particular emphasis on low- and moderate-income persons; persons residing in predominantly low -and moderate-income neighborhoods.
SUBJECT: Approval of FY 2017-18 Annual Action Plan
The CAPER is an annual assessment report that identifies the Urban County of Orange’s overall housing and community development accomplishments in meeting the five-year Consolidated Plan strategy that establishes priorities for addressing the identified housing and community development needs. The County is required to provide the public and HUD with an assessment of its accomplishments utilizing federal funds each year.
This is the 8 page report from the County CEO along with recommendations for the BOS to adapt for their budget for the coming year. This message is for our taxpayers. The CEO creates this version because he thinks that taxpayers won't spend the time involved in sorting out all of the legal mumble-jumble in the real budget and besides, taxpayers are really not smart enough to read the real budget so hopefully you will settle for the 8 pages provided.
Here it is, in all of its' glory, the FY 2017-18 Budget for Orange County. All 905 pages designed to mesmerize taxpayers and complicate any accountability of how your money is being spent for the next year. It's not likely that many residents will really understand how our county is spending their money, but it is certain to have great impact on the quality of life for all who live in OC. Should we just trust the county to spend our tax dollars and expect that the money is spent in the best interest of all citizens? Not likely. This proposed budget commits no funding whatsoever for housing to end homelessness.
Building on more than 30 years of nationally recognized research success, the Economic Forecast provides businesses and organizations with compelling information on consumer spending, interest rates, employment, housing and GDP.
This is a 2017 collaborative study among Orange County United Way, Jamboree, and the University of California, Irvine, with the support of the Association of California Cities - Orange County (ACC-OC), 2-1-1 of Orange County, and the Hospital Association of Southern California. In addition, an Advisory Committee representing a cross-section of Orange County experts and practitioners from various institutions and organizations served to guide our design and process. The study was also conducted to leverage the work of the United Way’s FACE 2024 strategic plan, the County’s 10 Year Plan to End Homelessness, and the County’s new Office of Care Coordination.
This report is structured to focus attention on pivotal issues which impact the quality of life and the wellbeing of our county so significantly that solving them must be our top priority. Important topics in this report include: Housing, Jobs, Wages, Economy, Health, Income, Education, Homelessness, etc. If you need local statistics regarding the disparity between the rich and poor here in the OC, here it is.
This is a 2015 report by the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco that profiles social and demographic data of all cities in Orange County and illustrated in easy to read bar graphs. Loads of info here regarding poverty, housing costs, wages and all of the other issues that contribute to the widening gap between affluence and destitution in the OC. All cities are compared side-by-side with others throughout the county.
Orange County 10 Year Plan to End Homelessness (A Complete Failure)
This is Orange County's plan for ending homelessness. The front cover says that the plan was implemented in 2012, but if you read into the plan it will tell you that this plan actually was first drafted in 2008.
This is a Cal State University Fullerton report to the Orange County Commission to End Homelessness and submitted to the commission in March of 2015. If you can show government leaders and taxpayers that plans to help the homeless can actually save them money, it's easier to get them to contribute more money for the homeless. This has been a useful tool in other parts of the country. The conclusion in this report was that the cost in OC was inconclusive because there just wasn't enough data supplied by cities. The report recommended that a system should be devised within the county that shares information regarding police and paramedics when they make contact with homeless people. There is some good info to pull from this as far as what is being done elsewhere.
An assessment of services and policies as reported by incoming Dir. of Care Coordinator Susan Price after her first 100 days as OC's new Homeless Czar
An ACLU report developed by Eve Garrow in 2016 that highlighted failures to execute the 10 year plan, lack of permanent affordable housing and failed public safety policies that were perpetuating homelessness and wasting taxpayers money.
Current homeless policies in our cities are driven by the public safety and managed by law enforcement. These current policies are proven failures that costs taxpayers money and do not reduce visible homelessness, rather these current policies are perpetuating homelessness in our cities. It's time to educate and inform taxpayers that solutions from the community development perspective are changing policies in other parts of our country that reduce visible homelessness and cost the taxpayers less. Loads of great info here for the benefit of all homeless advocates and activists. Download this 20 page document and study it frequently. We can make a difference if we share knowledge and stay on the same page.
Official court documents filed in court against Orange County. Can you spell L I T I G A T I O N?
Initial Study Proposed Mitigated Negative Declaration Sept. 2015
IOrange County Behavioral Health Services (BHS) has used a comprehensive stakeholder process to develop local MHSA programs. MHSA funds a behavioral health system of care that ranges from prevention services to crisis residential care. In addition, another $5 million was allocated during the FY 16/17 Community Planning Process to create units in the new MHSA Special Needs Housing Program (SNHP).
The City of Anaheim, California
Effective January 1, 2008, SB2 (Chapter 633, Statutes of 2007) requires every California city and county to engage in a detailed analysis of emergency shelters and transitional and supportive housing in their next Housing Element revision, regulates zoning for these facilities, and broadens the scope of the Housing Accountability Act to include emergency shelters as well as supportive and transitional housing.
A letter from the North Net Fire Training Authority asking Anaheim City Council informing Council about portable toilets installed by homeless advocates for the homeless people to use onRampart St. near the fire training facility.
Anaheim Consolidated Plan 2015-2019
The Consolidated Plan for the City of Anaheim, California has been prepared in response to a consolidated process developed by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) for the Community Development Block Grants (CDBG), Emergency Solution Grant (ESG), Home Investment Partnership (HOME) and Housing Opportunities for Persons with Aids (HOPWA) programs.
An Annual Action Plan is the annual operating plan designed to identify specific activities that Anaheim intends to pursue through the Community Development Block Grant, HOME Investment Partnerships, Emergency Solutions Grant, and other state and local housing and community development programs, to address the objectives identified in the Consolidated Plan.
In accordance with HUD regulations, this Citizen Participation Plan (CPP) is designed to provide opportunities for Anaheim residents to give input on community needs and priority uses of the following federal entitlement programs: Community Development Block Grant (CDBG), HOME Investment Partnerships (HOME) and Emergency Shelter Grant (ESG).
Traditionally, cities have had the power and ability to control, more or less, the manner and method of growth and planning within their borders. In many states, including California, a mandate requiring that is codified. The central nature of the planning process to the idea of self-determination of a municipality is enshrined in most states’ legal processes. Not in the case of Disneyland.
The purpose of the legislative platform is to provide a means for summarizing the City’s core legislative principles for the purpose of advocacy efforts at the regional, state and federal level. Recognizing the importance of promoting City priorities and legislative initiatives, the legislative platform is developed to be consistent with the City’s long-term strategic vision, which focuses on our commitment to service, community and economic development initiatives.
Memorandum of Understanding between the Anaheim Police Management Association and
the City of Anaheim January 15, 2016 through January 14, 2018
the City of Anaheim January 15, 2016 through January 14, 2018
This is the current labor agreement between the City of Anaheim and Anaheim Police Department. It's a real snore, but worthy of scrutiny nonetheless.
"Nothing but the facts ma'am." This is Anaheim's own statistics regarding homelessness in the "City of Kindness." It reads like a dimestore novel.
The overarching goal of the Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Community Planning and Development (CPD) programs covered by the Consolidated Plan is “to develop viable urban communities by providing decent housing and a suitable living environment and expanding economic opportunities,” principally for low- and moderate-income persons. In this effort, HUD looks to its state and local government grantees to “extend and strengthen partnerships among all levels of government and the private sector, including for-profit and non-profit organizations, in the production of affordable housing.” (See 24 CFR 91.1)
This is the now infamous staff report prepared for city council by the City Managers Office for the January 24, 2017 city council meeting. The council failed to repeal the ordinance criminalizing sleeping outdoors of persons' experiencing homelessness. Council also reviewed the current policy regarding storage of homeless property and found that it is good to steal the few possessions homeless people have. This is the perfect example of how our county and cities dictate homeless policies for the homeless based on the principles of public health and safety.
This particular document is ancient history from around the same time as the Magna Carta. This goes back to September 30, 2015 when the homeless were excited about the county finally opening the doors of it's very first year-round homeless shelter. Once again, it was all political BS at the expense of homeless lives lost. If you use the data that we have available you could conclude that perhaps as many as 270 homeless lives have been lost. There is no telling how many lives could have been saved if there were only a place where they could escape the harsh elements associated with living outdoors in squalid conditions. Elected officials across the county should be ashamed of themselves. The leaders of our communities should somehow be held accountable for their lack of political will to promote solutions for homelessness. They should be held criminally responsible for their lack of urgency that no doubt resulted in at least some deaths of homeless people. Anyway, look at the shelter plan that never happened. You be the judge. Just more public safety policy rhetoric to read here.
Here it is in all its' glory. The very document that introduced the camping ordinance and the disposition and removal of homeless personal property stored in public space. This ordinance was passed into law on September 24, 2013 and has nothing positive to show as far as decreases in visible homelessness. Taxpayers money still spent year after year in the face of yearly increases in visible homelessness. HELLO TAXPAYERS! Are you satisfied with the lack of performance of local government in solving the homeless problem? Can you honestly say that you are getting enough bang for your homeless buck? Ask your mayor and city council to review the current policies for your city. Here's your chance to demand fiscal responsibility on the part of your local elected officials!
Information here regarding the Housing & Community Development Commission here in Anaheim.
These are the official federal guidelines to ensure citizen participation in all HUD funded programs with grants to local governments. This funding stream should be closely monitored by those of us advocating for people of low-income or homeless to maintain sufficient affordable housing in our communities.
I'll bet there's enough pork in this budget to house every homeless person in Orange County.
Download and fill out this application if you want to serve on a board or commission in the City of Anaheim.
The 2014-2021 Housing Element provides for the identification and analysis of existing and projected housing needs and articulates the City's official policies for the preservation, conservation, improvement and production of housing within the City of Anaheim.
The City of Anaheim's annual report on the General Plan submitted to the State Department of Housing and Community Development persuant to government code.
City of Anaheim Successor to the Redevelopment Agency/Anaheim Housing Authority AB 987 Affordable Housing Database.
Housing Opportunity Sites from 2006-2014 Housing Element.
Architectural renderings of the Anaheim Housing Authority affordable housing project to house seniors and homeless. Approved by Anaheim City Council on June 6, 2017.
The City of Santa Ana
SANTA ANA — Checks totaling about $400,000 will be given to 28 homeless people who were arrested during a sweep last summer at the Civic Center in a settlement approved by the City Council on Monday night. L.A. Times August 20, 1991
NEW LISTING! Tobe vs. Santa Ana
The Court of Appeal invalidated, on constitutional grounds, an ordinance of the City of Santa Ana (Santa Ana) which banned "camping" and storage of personal property, including camping equipment, in designated public areas. We granted the petitions for review of Santa Ana and the People to consider whether the ordinance is valid on its face and whether either of the actions involved in the consolidated appeal stated an "as applied" challenge to the ordinance.
California Supreme Court 1995
California Supreme Court 1995
In the summer of 1988, Santa Ana city officials formed a vagrancy task force to implement city council policy that "vagrants are no longer welcome in the City of Santa Ana." /2/ The stated mission of this task force was "to move all vagrants and their paraphernalia out of Santa Ana by continually removing them from places that they are frequenting in the City, such as Civic Center, Center Park, the mission, the Hospitality House on the east side of town, and other City facilities which offer refuge to them." /3/ To carry out this plan, the vagrancy task force recommended that city officials put pressure on charitable organizations to end distribution of free food to homeless people, leave sprinklers running for extended periods on public land, and conduct sweeps through
city parks to confiscate and destroy bedrolls and other property of homeless individuals found on public land.
Clearing House Review Journal of Poverty Law 1995
city parks to confiscate and destroy bedrolls and other property of homeless individuals found on public land.
Clearing House Review Journal of Poverty Law 1995
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SANTA ANA AMENDING SECTION 10- 551 AND ADDING NEW SECTIONS 10- 552, 10- 553 AND 10- 554 TO THE SANTA ANA MUNICIPAL CODE RELATED TO STORAGE OF PROPERTY, VEHICLE ACCESS AND VOLUNTEER SERVICES IN THE CIVIC CENTER AREA
EMERGENCY ORDINANCE: AMENDING AND ADDING NEW SECTIONS TO SANTA ANA MUNICIPAL CODE CHAPTER 10, ARTICLE 10 RELATED TO STORAGE OF PROPERTY, PROHIBITION OF ANIMALS, VEHICLE ACCESS AND SERVICES IN THE CIVIC CENTER AREA STRATEGIC PLAN NO. 5, 3)
Adopt an emergency ordinance to amend Section 10- 551 and add new Sections 10-552, 10- 553: and 10- 554 to the Santa Ana Municipal Code related to the storage of property, vehicle access and, volunteer services in the Civic Center area.
Adopt an emergency ordinance to amend Section 10- 551 and add new Sections 10-552, 10- 553: and 10- 554 to the Santa Ana Municipal Code related to the storage of property, vehicle access and, volunteer services in the Civic Center area.
Homeless Encampments, Authorized Encampments, Sanctioned Encampments, Safe Zones
This 2017 report by the National Law Center on Homelessness & Poverty (“the Law Center”) documents the apparent rapid growth of encampments of people experiencing homelessness or “tent cities” across the United States and the legal and policy responses to that growth. (This report uses the term “encampments” but recognizes that there are multiple ways to refer to the living situation of self-sheltering homeless persons).
This report, a joint effort of the Allard K. Lowenstein International Human Rights Clinic at Yale Law School and the National Law Center on Homelessness & Poverty, documents the rise of homeless encampments and “tent cities” across the United States and the legal and policy responses to that growth.
Let's see if anyone has been listening to my speeches and reading my articles for the last couple of years. Here is a quote from this document: "Communities seeking to provide lasting solutions to end homelessness for people living in encampments should first develop a local action plan that engages both residents of the encampment and an array of community partners." I'm going to add the community itself as a critical partner in this endeavor. This is a 2015 report from the United States Interagency Council on Homelessness (USICH). It provides the framework for developing local action plans in order to aid policy-makers, government officials, and practitioners in developing a thoughtful, coordinated, and collaborative plan to ensure that people living in encampments are linked to permanent housing.
This brief describes why encampments exist and the many benefits that encampments can provide to their residents. The brief concludes with recommendations to policymakers on how they can embrace encampments without failing to pursue more permanent solutions to homelessness.
A 2015 report by the National Coalition for the homelessness that identify common characteristics of large homeless encampments in 6 cities across America known for such large types of homeless encampments
A 2015 study by University of California Berkely regarding city sanctioned homeless encampments in Ontario, CA; Seattle, WA and Portland, OR
This is a Portland State University study/ guide from 2012 that presents a problem-solving approach to addressing the impacts of homeless encampments in public spaces.
Affordable Housing and
Permanent Supportive Housing Solutions
NEW LISTING! Out of Reach: The High Cost of Housing 2018
This is the annual report for 2018 from the National Low Income Housing Coalition on housing affordability in the U.S. The report documents the gap between wages and the cost of rental housing and makes comparisons nationally and regionally and provides critical information on housing wages, AMI, FMR, etc. The report contains a preface written by U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders
NEW LISTING! Out of Reach: Data Sources and Definitions
A quick reference guide on what the numbers are, how to use the numbers when referring to Out of Reach, and where the numbers come from.
This report, or “Toolbox”, describes a series of alternatives that can be used to create the number and types of housing units needed to eliminate homelessness. Many of the tools discussed can also help to address the growing need for more “workforce” housing.
The scattered-site model provides great opportunity to integrate permanent supportive housing units in the general community, while maximizing available housing stock to achieve a range of housing types and unit sizes.
This is a brief detailing some of the "best-practices" in scattered-site housing for families developed by Homes For Families, a Massachussetts nonprofit organization. The brief also offers policy recommendations for implementation by other organizations into a model for scattered-site housing developments.
NEW LISTING! Building Your Program: Permanent Supportive Housing
This is a part of a series of evidence-based practice kits created by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) and is intended to help mental health authorities, agency administrators and Permanent Supportive Housing program leaders think through and develop the structure of Permanent Supportive Housing programs.
In a scattered-site rental housing program, a nonprofit housing organization acquires and renovates rental properties for low and very low income households. Depending on the neighborhood, the organization purchases houses or small apartment buildings located throughout the area. This manual is designed for Board Members and staff of nonprofit community development organizations that are not experienced in managing scattered-site rental housing.
In this paper, we shall argue that large-scale municipal housing, built and owned by the state, is by far the best option for solving the affordability crisis. In Part I, we will examine the history and policy failures that created the crisis. In Part II, we will make the case for municipal housing. PeoplesPolicyProject.org 2018
NEW LISTING! Accessory Dwelling Units Memorandum
ADUs are an affordable type of home to construct in California because they do not require paying for land, major new infrastructure, structured parking, or elevators. ADUs can provide a source of income for homeowners. ADUs are built with cost-effective wood frame construction, which is significantly less costly than homes in new multifamily infill buildings.
SB 35 streamlines the creation of critically needed housing and ensures that all communities are accountable for meeting our housing needs.
OC Register article June 20, 2015. California’s ability to provide affordable housing wasn’t riding on the state Supreme Court’s recent ruling upholding the right of cities to mandate that new development projects include a certain proportion of low-priced residences.
Ten Principles for Developing Affordable Housing seeks to help those who wish to develop housing for low- and moderate-income households understand what it takes to make affordable housing projects happen. It also seeks to help policy makers and community leaders understand the principles behind the production of affordable housing.
The issue of housing affordability has become increasingly urgent in California, with rising housing costs and limited supply taking their toll on communities statewide. In his State of the City Address in January 2016, Mayor Robert Garcia issued a call to action to address the increasingly tenuous challenge of producing affordable and workforce housing for residents of Long Beach.
This is a housing study performed by the Joint Center For Housing Studies of Harvard University. The study looks at national housing markets, homeownership, rental housing and housing challenges.
In this 2016 paper, Enterprise Community Partners, Inc. lays out the challenges that advocates face and uses new research conducted by the FrameWorks Institute to put forward evidence-based messaging recommendations that can be used to advance a strong affordable housing and community development agenda. Their goal is to equip housing and community development advocates with evidence about which messages work (and which don’t) as well as to use communications to expand the public discourse on housing issues – ostensibly paving the way for real and lasting systems change.
This Report explores the ways in which housing can shape resiliency and boost sustainability for individuals and the communities in which they live. It explains the concept of community sustainability and the specific role of affordable housing in shaping our future.
The estimates provided in this report suggest that in most places and by most measures, housing development is both economically and fiscally
beneficial for communities in California, despite the housing downturn.
beneficial for communities in California, despite the housing downturn.
The purpose of the AHSC Program is to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions through projects that implement land-use, housing, transportation, and agricultural land preservation practices to support infill and compact development,
Creating an affordable housing trust fund, with an identified revenue source that will generate ongoing funding without tapping into the state general fund, has the potential for reforming the state’s response to homelessness and for putting California on track for ending long-term homelessness.
Permanent supportive housing (PSH) offers subsidized housing for formerly homeless people with disabilities and chronic health conditions. It provides flexible and individualized support services that are offered to tenants, who can participate on a voluntary basis.
This Issue Paper looks at innovative ways that public housing agencies are supporting housing for formerly homeless people in the communities the researchers visited.
This document was prepared for the National Alliance to End Homelessness in 2009. In the past decade, a significant shift has begun to occur in efforts to address homelessness, with agencies and communities increasingly moving away from shelter and transitional housing strategies toward prevention and Housing First approaches, which seek to maintain households in housing whenever possible and rapidly re-house those for whom homelessness cannot be prevented.
An affordable housing study researched by The Brookings Institute and The Urban Institute. There is a lot to be learned about affordable housing and this is a good study to take in.
The Advocates’ Guide: An Educational Primer on Federal Programs and Resources Related to Affordable Housing and Community Development, is as the title suggests a guide to affordable housing. But on many levels it is much more than that. It is hundreds of pages of useful resources and practical know-how written by leading experts in the affordable housing and community development field with a singular purpose—to educate advocates and
affordable housing providers of all kinds about the programs and policies that make housing affordable to low-income people across America.
affordable housing providers of all kinds about the programs and policies that make housing affordable to low-income people across America.
A list of more than 20 programs that award loans and grants for the construction, acquisition, rehabilitation and preservation of affordable rental and ownership housing, homeless shelters and transitional housing, public facilities and infrastructure, and the development of jobs for lower income workers.
Information that you need to advocate for affordable housing. These are 20 different arguments in favor of affordable housing.
Approaches for Ending Chronic Homelessness in California through a Coordinated Supportive Housing Program
A Supportive Housing Program could limit eligibility to ensure people who access supportive housing the state creates are in need of the services supportive housing provides. Finally, the state could craft a coordinated process that promotes agency collaboration to advance public-private partnerships between state and local government, law enforcement, the non-profit sector, philanthropy, the business community, and consumers.
Communities have demonstrated and research has shown that RRH is a valuable strategy for quickly transitioning such individuals and families directly from shelter into permanent housing with needed and appropriate supports. To sustain RRH as a valuable community tool for ending homelessness, the Emergency Solutions Grants (ESG) program and the Continuum of Care (CoC) program both include rapid re-housing as an eligible form of assistance.
Unused federal property is one resource that has not been used to full advantage despite the fact that states, local governments, and homeless service providers are able to acquire such property for free under Title V of the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act.
This October 2013 report was commissioned by the National Law Center on Homelessness and Poverty and defines Title V of the U.S. Code that provides unused federal properties and how they can be acquisitioned for the purpose of providing services for the homeless.
This October 2013 report was commissioned by the National Law Center on Homelessness and Poverty and defines Title V of the U.S. Code that provides unused federal properties and how they can be acquisitioned for the purpose of providing services for the homeless.
The purpose of this Glossary is to facilitate a common language within HUD USER and the larger community of urban planners and developers, housing advocates, architects, builders, government officials, researchers, students, and all others concerned with the past, present – and especially – the future of housing in America. This glossary is not intended to be an authoritative source, but rather a handy reference to help familiarize you with some of the housing-specific terms you'll come across in our research publications and on our site.
Grants and Funding For Affordable Housing
The forecast includes SAMHSA’s plans for release of FOAs, including brief program descriptions, eligibility information, award size, number of awards, and anticipated release date. Please note: This information reflects current planning and is subject to change.
The Infill Infrastructure Grant Program was funded by Proposition 1C, the Housing and Emergency Shelter Trust Fund Act of 2006. Its primary objective is to promote infill housing development.
The HOME Investment Partnerships Program was authorized by the Cranston-Gonzalez National Affordable Housing Act of 1990 (P.L. 101-625). HOME is a federal block grant program that provides funding to states and localities to be used exclusively for affordable housing activities to benefit low-income households.
The ESG Program provides funding to: (1) engage homeless individuals and families living on the street; (2) improve the number and quality of emergency shelters for homeless individuals and families; (3) help operate these shelters; (4) provide essential services to shelter residents; (5) rapidly re-house homeless individuals and families; and, (6) prevent families/individuals from becoming homeless.
Glossary of terms for grants.
The glossary of terms and acronyms for SAMHSA grants.
Funding Streams
Housing Trust Funds
Housing trust funds are an exciting new model for funding critically needed affordable housing. Housing trust funds were created as early as the mid-1970s, but they did not really become a trend until the late 1980s and into the 1990s. There are now nearly 150 housing trust funds in cities, counties and states. Altogether they have spent nearly $1.5 billion building and preserving almost 200,000 units of affordable housing.
The purpose of this guide is to increase the understanding of the role that housing trust funds can play in addressing a community’s housing needs. The guide offers local officials information and resources they can use to design or institute a housing trust fund that is best suited to their community’s character and circumstances.
Housing trust funds began in the 1970s in California and Maryland, but with campaigns ranging from small communities to extensive statewide efforts, the movement is of sufficient proportion today to shift our perspective—asserting that good affordable housing is fundamental to the health of every community.
Housing trust funds are publicly funded programs to expand or preserve affordable housing options and address critical housing needs for low-income people.
The Housing Trust Fund Project provides technical assistance to organizations and agencies working to create and implement housing trust funds and maintains a clearinghouse of information on housing trust funds throughout the country.
In 1985, California was one of the first states to create legislation supporting a housing trust fund, which in theory would have funneled revenue from
offshore oil drilling to the production of affordable housing in the state.
offshore oil drilling to the production of affordable housing in the state.
Housing trust funds are distinct funds established by legislation, ordinance or resolution to receive public revenues, which can only be spent on affordable housing.
Inclusionary Zoning
“Inclusionary Zoning” as it has come to be known is a local zoning ordinance or land use policy which either mandates or encourages developers of housing to include a specified percentage of housing that is affordable to lower and/or moderate income households.1 With the price of housing continuing to climb in many parts of California, cities and counties increasingly are establishing inclusionary programs to help provide for the needs of fixed and lower income residents who live or work in their communities.
Since the 1970s, cities and counties in California have utilized inclusionary zoning (IZ) policies as a tool to increase the supply of affordable housing and promote the economic integration of communities. Such regulations require residential developers to designate a specific percentage of new housing units as income restricted. Such programs rose in popularity because they leverage private funds to promote economic and social integration. In 1994, 12 percent, of municipalities in California had an inclusionary zoning program. In 2003, the number jumped to 20 percent and continued to rise to 32 percent in 2007 (Non-Profit Housing Association of Northern California, 2007).
“Opening the Door to Inclusionary Housing” is a guide for municipal governments and affordable housing advocates to explore the feasibility of Inclusionary Housing as a tool to address the issue of affordable housing in their community.
Inclusionary housing has become a popular tool nationwide for addressing the shortage of affordable housing. 1 Inclusionary zoning requires developers to reserve a certain percentage of new residential development as affordable to low-and moderate-income households.
Officials can use inclusionary zoning as one of a number of tools to meet the housing needs of low- and moderate-income working families. Inclusionary zoning creates affordable housing units without isolating poor and working families into economically segregated communities.
In response to the nationwide affordable housing crisis, many local governments are turning to inclusionary zoning as an effective local tool for generating much needed affordable housing. In crafting an inclusionary housing program, every community faces a major decision: should the inclusionary housing program be mandatory or voluntary?
IH policies require new housing developments to include homes affordable to a wider range of incomes within a community. Effective IH polices strike a balance by providing incentives and flexibility to developers in exchange for housing that meets the needs of a whole community
Many city leaders are aware that vibrant cities rely on having a place for all members of the community to call home. Inclusionary zoning is one tool that cities and states can use to require that a portion of newly constructed housing units are created and operated as affordable housing.
Inclusionary zoning requires residential developers to set aside a portion of the homes they build as affordable for low- and moderate-income families. In addition to increasing the supply of affordable housing, inclusionary zoning disperses affordable housing throughout the growth areas of a region
Any new construction of a certain size (e.g. more than 10 units) must include a percentage of the units as affordable. It’s that simple. The affordable units would likely be priced between $140,000 and $200,000. The developer is given costoffsets or incentives (such as fee waivers, parking reductions, zoning changes) in return for the affordable units.
An alternative to inclusionary zoning. Basically, a city or county must grant a density bonus, concessions and incentives, prescribed parking requirements, as well as waivers of development standards upon a developer's request when the developer includes a certain percentage of affordable housing in a housing development project.
On May 4, 2017 "the California State Assembly approved legislation that will restore the long-standing authority of local governments to require affordable rental units in their local housing development ordinances," states the press release by Assemblymember Richard Bloom on the passage of his bill, AB-1505: Land use: zoning regulations.
Bond Measures, Ballot Initiatives and Referendum
You will find detailed information on the process; laws that govern Special District initiative and referendum petitions and more throughout this handbook. In addition, you can find added resources on our website by visiting ocvote.com.
The statewide initiative process is a well-known and frequently used way of making public policy decisions in California. What is not so well known is that California voters also use the initiative process at the local government level and that they seem to do so far more often than voters in the rest of the nation
The Swiss initiative and referendum process is similar, in many respects, to the system in California. Both California and Switzerland require a popular vote to affirm legislative amendments to the constitution, both allow an optional referendum on statutes passed by the legislature, and both permit citizens to pass their own constitutional amendments through the initiative process.
There are over 80,000 issuers of municipal bonds in the United States. The cumulative municipal bond market is currently around $3.7 trillion. That means that municipalities across the country have $3.7 trillion in debt outstanding to the bondholders. The Federal Reserve has data that indicates that the total municipal debt outstanding went from $1.60 trillion in 2001 to $3.74 trillion in 2011-a 133.8% increase.
Bond financing is a type of long-term borrowing that state and local governments frequently use to raise money, primarily for long-lived infrastructure assets. They obtain this money by selling bonds to investors. In exchange, they promise to repay this money, with interest, according to specified schedules.
Municipal bonds are one of the safest long-term investments. Because they're so secure, they usually carry interest rates that average a percentage point or two below the going rate for Treasury bills. But in early 2008, something happened that's only occurred in the U.S. twice since 1990 -- the interest rate for municipal bonds crept higher than for Treasury bills
Most bond measures assume that property values will rise and therefore the amount of tax that can be raised will increase. How do those assumptions compare with previous years and projections being made by other analysts?
Alameda County elected officials, policy makers, and community members have been collaborating to find a solution. The solution has emerged: An AFFORDABLE HOUSING BOND
Homeless Deaths and Violence Against Homeless People
This organizing manual is intended to supplement other reports and to help concerned citizens and advocates educate those around them on the issues of bias-motivated crimes against homeless individuals; it includes both information and resources for citizens and advocates.
This study was conducted by the National Coalition for the Homeless. It documents the known cases of violence against homeless individuals by housed individuals in 2012. The report includes descriptions of the cases, current and pending legislation that would help protect homeless people, and recommendations for advocates to help prevent violence against homeless individuals.
NEW LISTING! Vulnerable to Hate: A Survey of Hate Crimes and Violence Committed Against Homeless People in 2013
The main objective of this report is to educate lawmakers, advocates, and the general public about hate crimes and violence against homeless people, in order to bring about change and ensure the protection of civil rights for everyone, regardless of economic circumstances or housing status. As part of its mission, the NCH is committed to creating the systemic and attitudinal changes necessary to end homelessness. A large component of these changes must include the societal guarantee of safety and protection, as well as a commitment by lawmakers to combat hate crimes and other violent acts against people who experience homelessness.
Hate Crimes against the Homeless: The Brutality Unveiled documents the known cases of violence against homeless individuals by housed individuals in 2011. The report includes descriptions of the cases, current and pending legislation that would help protect homeless people, and recommendations for advocates to help prevent violence against homeless individuals.
People who are homeless are more vulnerable to attacks because they live outside in public spaces. Most of our communities do not have adequate, affordable housing or shelter space to meet the need, leaving many homeless people to live outside. In fact, according to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, 41.8% of our homeless population is unsheltered
While the medical causes of deaths of homeless women have been examined extensively in medical journals, public health journals, and psychological journals, there is a paucity of political science literature that examines the geographic locations of the deaths of homeless women. Without detailed information about the locations of the deaths of homeless women, it will be impossible for policy makers, medical professionals, and advocates for the homeless to formulate effective preventative policy responses. Using public data from the Orange County Coroner’s office, this paper seeks to answer two questions: where are homeless women dying in Orange County, California? And, what implications do the locations of these deaths have for policy making and for local homeless services agencies in Orange County? Claremont Graduate University 2017
No Safe Place: A Survey of Hate Crimes and Violence Committed Against Homeless People in 2014 & 2015
The National Coalition for the Homeless (NCH) has documented 1,650 acts of violence against homeless individuals by housed perpetrators over the past 17 years (1999-2015). These crimes are believed to have been motivated by the perpetrators‘ biases against people experiencing homelessness or by their ability to target homeless people with relative ease. The crimes include an array of atrocities such as murder, beatings, rapes, and even mutilations.
Updated at 11:18 am 12/19/2016 178 names total.
A study by the L.A. Coalition to end Hunger and Homelessness that examined homeless deaths in L.A. and other cities between 2000-2007
What policy makers and the general public need to recognize is that the homeless are aging faster than the general population in the U.S. This shift in the demographics has major implications for how municipalities and health care providers deal with homeless populations.
Information from the National Health Care for the Homeless Council
New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene Reporting Deaths of Homeless Persons, Annual 5 (July 1, 2009 – June 30, 2010)
Metro Public Health Department Division of Epidemiology. This project was undertaken at the request of the Director of the Downtown Clinic for the Homeless. The endeavor encountered many challenges, but provided insight into what is necessary for a full scale homeless mortality report to be produced at the local level.
Since 1990, the National Coalition for the Homeless (NCH) has sponsored National Homeless Persons’ Memorial Day every year on December 21 – the first day of winter and the longest night of the year – to bring attention to the tragedy of homelessness and to remember those who have died while living without a permanent home. This manual provides ideas and resources as well as sample flyers, programs and municipal proclamations that can help to make an event extra special.
Homeless Youth and Education
While student homelessness is on the rise, with more than 1.3 million homeless students identified during the 2013-14 school year, these students and the school liaisons and state coordinators that support them tell us that student homelessness remains an invisible and extremely disruptive problem, compounded by the lack of awareness of the issue in many communities.
NEW LISTING! More Than A Place To Sleep: Understanding the Health and Well-Being of Homeless High School Students
Homeless students face disproportionate burdens across the board—they are more likely to fall behind academically due to school transfers, absenteeism,
and other instability factors; they are more likely to be suspended; they are less likely to receive timely identification for special education services; and the list goes on. What this report reveals is that these students face yet another set of obstacles to educational achievement— their health and risk behaviors—that, if unaddressed, will make it harder for them to finish school, follow professional goals, and remain stably housed in their own adult lives.
and other instability factors; they are more likely to be suspended; they are less likely to receive timely identification for special education services; and the list goes on. What this report reveals is that these students face yet another set of obstacles to educational achievement— their health and risk behaviors—that, if unaddressed, will make it harder for them to finish school, follow professional goals, and remain stably housed in their own adult lives.
NEW LISTING! Compounding Stress: The Timing and Duration Effects of Homelessness on Children's Health
This new research suggests that interventions that focus on preventing child and family homelessness can be especially effective before birth. Rapid response to the needs of pregnant women at-risk of homelessness has the potential to reduce the likelihood of negative health outcomes, help support a child’s trajectory towards lifelong healthy development, and reduce public health expenditures.
America’s Youngest Outcasts reports on child homelessness within the United States in 2013 using recent federal data to estimate the number of homeless children. The report provides state profiles using more than 30 measures related to child homelessness for each state, including the number of homeless children over time, measures of well-being of children and the risk for child homelessness, and a summary of the state policy environment.
Since the launch of the Federal Framework to End Youth Homelessness, there has been an unprecedented increase in collaboration both among federal agencies and between the government and locally-driven efforts to end homelessness among unaccompanied youth under age 25. This document highlights some of the significant efforts underway, and how they are contributing to local, state, and national progress.
United States Interagency Council on Homelessness (USICH)
United States Interagency Council on Homelessness (USICH)
Homelessness is an ongoing crisis that continues to displace and negatively impact the lives of millions of Americans each year. Homeless children and youth are among the most vulnerable and invisible groups in the United States. Lacking political power, homeless children and youth are subjected to policies that have lasting impact on their lives. National Law Center on Homelessness and Poverty 2015
The Education for Homeless Children and Youth Program, under Title VII-B of the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act (“McKinney-Vento”), requires states and school districts to remove barriers to education, ensuring that homeless children and youth are identified and can enroll in, attend, and succeed in school. National Law Center on Homelessness and Poverty October 1, 2016
Homeless Employment and Homeless Job Programs
NEW LISTING! Creating Opportunities For Homeless Jobseekers: Connecting Income, Employment, and Housing Supports
Employment and income are associated with improved quality of life among people experiencing homelessness. Income from work improves access to food, clothing, housing, and healthcare-increasing personal, family, and community wellbeing. Employment shows promise in supporting recovery from mental illness and addiction†, reducing recidivism, and reducing reliance on public benefits. Heartland Alliance
NEW LISTING! Supporting Job-Seekers Experiencing Homelessness: Best Practices for CoC & Workforce Board Engagement
Employment and income improve quality of life among people experiencing homelessness. Income from work increases access to food, clothing, housing, and healthcare-increasing personal, family, and community wellbeing. Employment (even part-time) supports recovery from mental illness and addiction, reducing recidivism, and reducing reliance on public benefits. The Heartland Alliance
NEW LISTING! Creating Economic Opportunity For Homeless Job-Seekers: The Role of Employers
and Community-Based Organizations
and Community-Based Organizations
In order to realize long-term benefits for individuals, employers, and communities, employers and community-based organizations serving people experiencing homelessness need to have tools, resources, and partnerships established to identify, recruit, prepare, and support people experiencing homelessness for employment success. This brief offers promising practices for employers and community-based housing and homeless
service organizations that want to maximize their success in creating pathways to employment and economic opportunity for homeless jobseekers.
service organizations that want to maximize their success in creating pathways to employment and economic opportunity for homeless jobseekers.
NEW LISTING! Employment Program Components:
Considerations for Modifying Programs For People Experiencing Homelessness
Considerations for Modifying Programs For People Experiencing Homelessness
Employment programs typically include assessment, job search assistance, work readiness training, occupational training, job placement, and retention services. Research and experience suggest that programs can best meet individual needs, strengths, and interests by modifying these elements to ensure flexible services that support each individual’s personal and developmental needs as they transition to employment. This best practice brief highlights a menu of enhancements and examples that programs may consider in providing supportive, flexible services for individuals experiencing or at risk of homelessness.
NEW LISTING! Working to End Homelessness: Promising Practices & Considerations in Promoting Employment
In order to realize long-term benefits for individuals, employers, and communities, employers and community-based organizations serving people experiencing homelessness need to have tools, resources, and partnerships established to identify, recruit, prepare, and support people
experiencing homelessness for employment success. This brief offers promising practices for employers and community-based housing and homeless
service organizations that want to maximize their success in creating pathways to employment and economic opportunity for homeless jobseekers.
experiencing homelessness for employment success. This brief offers promising practices for employers and community-based housing and homeless
service organizations that want to maximize their success in creating pathways to employment and economic opportunity for homeless jobseekers.
The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP, formerly known as the Food Stamp program) is a critical federal safety net program that provides food assistance to low-income individuals and families. SNAP funding to states includes resources dedicated to employment and training services, with the intention of helping SNAP recipients increase their earned income in order to help them transition off of SNAP benefits.
Transitional Jobs (TJ) is an employment strategy that seeks to overcome employment barriers and transition people with labor market barriers into work using wage-paid, short-term employment that combines real work, skill development and supportive services.
Effective employment programs take special care when serving individuals facing these barriers and often draw on a number of population-specific strategies in providing individualized service. There are many ways in which programs address population-specific needs.
Most individuals experiencing or at risk of homelessness want to work and a growing number of service providers and policymakers have taken notice. Although choosing the right employment program model can seem like a daunting task, research and wisdom from the field shows that multiple models have proven effective or promising in attaching the most disadvantaged jobseekers to work and helping them advance to employment options that meet their long-term needs and interests.
Drawn from more than a dozen interviews and site visits with rapid re-housing providers from across the country, this report shines a spotlight on why robust employment, training, and related supportive services are key to the success of rapid re-housing participants. The report offers program-level recommendations for enhancing the design and delivery of rapid re-housing with employment supports and puts forward bold policy ideas for helping to ensure that the rapid re-housing model can provide pathways to employment and economic opportunity for all families experiencing or at-risk of homelessness.
National Coalition for Homelessness recommendations for access of homeless people to workforce services
A 2009 report by the National Coalition for the Homelessness on Employment and Homelessness
Homelessness, Pets and Companion Animals
Animal companionship and homelessness has often been described as causing significant social exclusion: ‘Homelessness is a state in which people are not only excluded from basic shelter, but also from security, a place to belong, intimate relationships, neighbours, and all of the benefits of having a place to call one’s own’
A significant number of homeless people own dogs, with these animals contributing to the well-being of their owners by providing emotional support and in many cases, a reason for living as well as acting as what might be termed a social catalyst, improving bonds between their owners. Yet many consider that homeless people should not be allowed, let alone encouraged to keep a dog. They consider that living with homeless people must have a negative impact on the dog’s health and welfare compared to that of a dog owned by people with a home. Here we sought to determine the health and welfare of dogs owned by homeless people.
Many people intuitively believe that they and others derive health benefits from relationships with their animal companions, and numerous scientific studies performed over the past 25 years support this belief. Among other benefits, animals have been demonstrated to improve human cardiovascular health, reduce stress, decrease loneliness and depression, and facilitate social interactions among people who choose to have pets.
Miscellaneous Homeless Topics Research, Reports and Studies
These are the top ten things that a library employee should know about homeless patrons.
NEW LISTING! Investing in People to Save Counties Money: Best Practices for Moving People with
Disabilities from General Assistance to SSI
Disabilities from General Assistance to SSI
This report compiles information that leads to the undeniable conclusion that strategically investing in SSI (Supplemental Security Income) advocacy programs with modest rent subsidies can generate millions in savings for county governments while stabilizing housing for poor residents with disabilities and
dramatically improving their quality of life.
dramatically improving their quality of life.
Robert's Rules of Order is the standard for facilitating discussions and group decision-making. Copies of the rules are available at most bookstores. Although they may seem long and involved, having an agreedupon set of rules makes meetings run easier. Robert's Rules will help your group have better meetings, not make them more difficult. Your group is free to modify them or find another suitable process that encourages fairness and participation, unless your bylaws state otherwise.
To better understand provider experiences serving lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and Questioning (LGBTQ) runaway and homeless youth, this study reports on case studies of four local agencies receiving grants from the Administration for Children and Family’s Runaway and Homeless Youth (RHY) Program. The purpose of the study was to learn about programs’ strategies for identifying and serving LGBTQ RHY, the challenges programs face in understanding and addressing the needs of this population, and potential areas for future research.
This Issue Paper describes innovative approaches to establishing SSI eligibility.
A study by Alex Biggers as his Honors Thesis in 2013 at the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill. It shows how homeless people who were challenged with the task of saving money with goals to buy laptops, cars, etc. Subjects were immersed in financial education and rewarded with the prospect of earning matching funds in order to meet their savings goals.
Good strategies for selling the idea to communities
A very thorough and comprehensive study examining the costs of homelessness in Silicon Valley
Fact sheet for the Silicon Valley study on the costs of homelessness by Santa Clara County officials
Download this toolkit that includes talking points, tips for social media and sample press release.
This University of Washington Tacoma study from 2012 researches how chronically homeless individuals are characterized in newspapers and how discourse is used to persuade the audience to support Housing First as an approach to ending chronic homelessness.
A lawsuit filed by two homeless men in Fullerton that was settled at a cost of over $1 million to the city dedicated to affordable housing for the homeless.
Homeless Resources
NEW LISTING! 2018 Housing Resource Guide
This is the definitive guide for listings of housing programs throughout Orange County. If it's not in here it's not likely to exist. You will find programs to fit the needs of families and individuals including emergency shelters, transitional (bridge) housing, section 8, shelter plus, rapid-rehousing, etc. There are programs for youth, victims of domestic violence, recovery and detox, veteran's and more. Here is the list, all you have to do is find the program with available beds.
Central Service Planning Area
Northl Service Planning Area
South Service Planning Area
NEW LISTING! Community Homeless Resource Pamphlet: Orange County 2016
This list has information regarding emergency shelters, health clinics, job-seeking, legal services, mental health, substance abuse recovery, hot meals, misc. services and additional food, clothing and hygiene.
NEW LISTING! Search For Homeless Resources @ 211 - OC
Now you can search the same database that volunteers use when you call 211 for resources.
Homelessness and Mental Health/Substance Abuse
NEW LISTING! Housing First, Consumer Choice and Harm Reduction for Homeless Individuals With a Dual Diagnosis
Objectives. We examined the longitudinal effects of a Housing First program for homeless, mentally ill individuals’ on those individuals’ consumer choice, housing stability, substance use, treatment utilization, and psychiatric symptoms. Conclusions. Participants in the Housing First program were able to obtain and maintain independent housing without compromising psychiatric or substance abuse symptoms. Research and Practice.
This report will focus on programs that provide effective behavioral health services for youth and adults. These programs are some of the critical building blocks in the construction of a system that works to keep the most vulnerable sub-groups of homeless Californians safe, secure and healthy. California Mental Health Planning Council
NEW LISTING! Substance Abuse and Homelessness
THIS IS A FACT SHEET --Many people stereotype the homeless population as all alcoholics or drug abusers. Although a high percentage of homeless people do struggle with substance abuse, addictions should be viewed as illnesses and require treatment, counseling and support to overcome. Substance abuse can cause homelessness, but it often arises after people lose their housing.
This paper discusses efforts that housing developers, advocates and local governments have made to promote supportive housing for people with mental health disabilities, suggests strategies for bolstering community support, and provides tools for addressing neighborhood opposition if it does arise.
A 2009 study by the National Coalition for the Homeless regarding mental illness and homelessness
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©Hope4Restoration.org 2017 All Rights Reserved
Hope 4 Restoration is a 501(c)(3) organization. Tax ID 82-2374403. All donations are tax deductible in full or in part.
©Hope4Restoration.org 2017 All Rights Reserved