Tackling Affordable Housing and Homelessness During and After COVID-19
A Framework and Package for Immediate and Long-Term Policy Solutions
As leaders in the affordable housing advocacy community, we have developed this framework of solutions to guide decision-makers as they respond to affordable housing and homelessness challenges exposed – and exacerbated – by the COVID-19 emergency, especially for the 3.4 million low-income renters who are now bearing the brunt of the pandemic’s impacts.
Even before the coronavirus, California faced a shortfall of 1.4 million homes affordable to those struggling the most, 150,000 people experienced homelessness on any given night, and more than three out of four extremely low-income households paid more than 50% of their income on rent.
State and federal leaders have already taken some noteworthy actions…
Affordable and Fair Housing Months
The Kennedy Commission is excited to join our partners around Orange County to hold Affordable and Fair Housing Months in April and May 2024.
Join us for educational resources, workshops, affordable housing groundbreakings and grand openings along with the latest trends and best practices in affordable housing.
The month of April will also feature our yearly highlight celebration of the 2024 Affordable Housing Awards on April 11, 2024. We hope you will be a part of these exciting events and celebrations.
To learn more about supporting or engaging in the OC Affordable and Fair Housing Months please click below to see calendar of events.
To participate or add events to the Affordable Housing calendar please contact Rebeca Duran at Rebecad@kennedycommission.org
$49.92
Hourly Wage Needed to afford $2,596 rent for two-bedroom apartment
$15.00
State Minimum Wage
124,514
Additional homes needed for lower income renters
6,860
people experienced homelessness
Orange County's Housing Crisis by the Numbers
Ranked among the top ten least affordable metropolitan areas in the country, Orange County is suffering from an affordable housing crisis. 1 In Orange County, you need to earn at least $162,000 a year to afford a median priced home at $826,000. 2 At this minimum qualifying income, only 21 percent of Orange County households could afford the monthly housing payment of $4,050. 3 The rental market has also taken a hit as Orange County rents reached a record high of $2,596 a month and is projected to get higher. 4
With high housing costs coupled with low vacancy rates, many lower income households struggle to afford and live in the cities they work. In addition, while the number of residents needing affordable homes have continually increased, the number of affordable homes being built has not kept up with the demand.
Orange County 2023 Affordable Housing Needs Report (May 2023)
Orange County continues to face rising challenges in affordable housing and homelessness. New data shows a staggering deficit of affordable housing for very-low and extremely low-income families. California Housing Partnership in collaboration with the Kennedy Commission has documented the housing conditions facing low-income renters in Orange County.
Key Findings:
Renters in Orange County need to earn $51.39 per hour - 3.3 times the state minimum wage - to afford the average monthly asking rent of $2,672.
130,175 low-income renter households in Orange County do not have access to an affordable home.
State and federal funding for housing production and preservation in Orange County is $426 million, a 58% increase from the year prior.
81% of extremely low-income households in Orange County are paying more than half of their income on housing costs compared to 1% of moderate-income households.
In 2022 in Orange County, there were only 4,784 beds available in the interim and permanent housing supply for persons experiencing homelessness.
Local Policy Recommendations for Orange County:
In addition to critical ongoing COVID-19 relief efforts and support, The Kennedy Commission calls on County and City leaders to take the following actions to provide relief to low-income families struggling with unaffordable and unstable housing:
Create a Countywide Affordable Housing Strategic Plan that establishes annual production goals for affordable homes to be developed in each city and the County and provides a clear path to meeting local housing needs.
Initiate a one-billion-dollar countywide local housing bond to leverage state housing resources and fund new affordable housing for low-income families and people experiencing homelessness.
Allow new residential development on commercial, industrial, and mixed-use zones where at least 20 percent of the developments are affordable to very low- and low-income families in exchange for by-right entitlement concessions and incentives.
Establish new “Housing Opportunities Zoning” in each jurisdiction that allows multi-family home developments that are 100% affordable to lower-income households to be built by-right.
Identify and dedicate city-owned land for the development of affordable housing.
Listen to Cesar Covarrubias’ Voice of OC podcast: Does OC Need a Housing Bond?
Making a Difference!
The Kennedy Commission’s work has positively impacted many lower income families in finding an affordable place where they can finally call home. Read their inspiring stories! It’s a reminder of why we need to continue to increase safe, healthy and affordable home opportunities in Orange County.
The Cost of Homelessness in Orange County
The impacts revealed.
Homelessness in Orange County: The Costs to Our Community Report reveals how much Orange County has spent on providing services to the homeless. Key findings include:
$299 million was spent to address homelessness in Orange County
Cost savings of approximately $42 million per year if all Orange County chronically homeless were placed into permanent supportive housing
Majority of Orange County’s homeless are U.S. citizens and long-term Orange County residents of over 10 years
“Fair and affordable housing is a basic right for all Americans.”
