Santa Ana's top news & views blog

Santa Ana's top news & views blog

Category Archives: Housing

O.C. Housing Authority receives $884,560 grant to assist homeless veterans

Posted on by Posted in Federal Government, homeless, Housing, Military, Orange County, Santa Ana, Veterans Leave a comment

Orange County Housing Authority receives $884,560 to assist homeless Veterans through the Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing Program

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: March 29, 2012

CONTACT: Karen Roper (714) 480-2805

(Santa Ana, CA) – The Orange County Housing Authority (OCHA) has been awarded $884,560 to further expand its ongoing Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing Program (VASH). This funding is a portion of $75 million appropriated to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) for 2012 in a coordinated effort involving HUD, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, and local housing authorities to provide permanent housing for homeless veterans in conjunction with supportive services. Continue reading→

OCTA bus terminal is no place for the homeless, according to city planners

Posted on by Posted in Civic Affairs, homeless, Housing, Orange County, Paul Walters, Santa Ana 3 Comments

The Santa Ana Planning and Building Agency fired back today at those who are trying to force the City of Santa Ana to turn the vacant OCTA terminal building into permanent housing for the homeless.   The Planning Agency  sent a memo to City Manager Paul Walters, that you can read here, explaining in great detail why this is a very dumb idea.  Walters, in turn, sent that memo to the Orange County Board of Supervisors.

The memo makes it clear that the City of Santa Ana wants to do its share to end homelessness, but the OCTA bus terminal building simply is not an appropriate place to shelter the homeless, for a number of reasons, including: Continue reading→

O.C. Homelessness panel delays turning S.A. bus station into shelter

Posted on by Posted in homeless, Housing, Huntington Beach, John Moorlach, Orange County, Santa Ana 1 Comment

The OC Commission to End Homelessness voted to encourage the Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA) to give the County and the City of Santa Ana more time to address the city’s concerns, with regard to turning a vacant bus station in downtown Santa Ana into a shelter for the homeless, according to the O.C. Board of Supervisors Chairman John Moorlach’s blog.

Moorlach wrote that “The original recommendation was simply to encourage the County to purchase the Santa Ana Transit Station.  In an effort to provide good dialogue, I did reach out to Acting City Manager Paul Walters earlier this week to inform him of the agenda item at this morning’s meeting (Paul is also a member of the Commission).  You can see from the Voice of OC what happened after the heads up.  For the record, I abstained on the vote because I am on the Board of Supervisors and the Board of OCTA.” Continue reading→

Correa to host O.C. mobile home conference on March 16, in Santa Ana

Posted on by Posted in Entertainment, Housing, Lou Correa, Orange County, Santa Ana Leave a comment

Orange County Mobile Home Conference, March 16

State Senator Lou Correa, as Chair of the Senate Select Committee on Manufactured Homes & Communities, is inviting mobile home owners and renters and other interested parties to attend the Orange County Mobile Home Conference on Friday, March 16.

A panel of mobile home residency law experts and code enforcement officials will discuss mobile home issues and answer questions relating to park inspections, health and safety codes, fair housing, senior housing, and much more. Continue reading→

Moorlach wants to house the homeless in the old Santa Ana bus station

Posted on by Posted in Civic Affairs, Development, homeless, Housing, Orange County, Republican Party, Santa Ana, Seniors, Transportation, Working Families 8 Comments

New Orange County Board of Supervisors Chairman John Moorlach has challenged “officials from the city of Santa Ana over his plans to use a defunct bus station in the midst of Santa Ana’s downtown to feed, and potentially house, homeless people,” according to the Voice of OC.

Our County government has done a poor job of serving the homeless.  They freeze at night for lack of beds and four of them were killed in recent weeks by a serial killer.  But hasn’t the City of Santa Ana been impacted enough by this? Continue reading→

Orange County Rental Assistance waiting list to open on Feb. 15

Posted on by Posted in Disabled, Family, homeless, Housing, Orange County, Seniors, Working Families Leave a comment

Orange County Rental Assistance Waiting List to Open
Opportunity for Section 8 Housing Assistance for Very Low-Income Individuals, Families, Seniors, and Disabled in Orange County
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: January 11, 2012
CONTACT: Karen Roper (714) 480-2805

(Santa Ana – CA) The Orange County Housing Authority (OCHA) will open its Waiting List to accept pre-applications for housing assistance from February 15, 2012 until February 29, 2012. The Section 8 Waiting List is the only opportunity for very low-income families, seniors, disabled persons, and individuals to obtain a Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher. Due to the limited number of vouchers and the large number of people that applied, the last time OCHA’s Waiting List was last opened was November 2005. The February 2012 Waiting List opening may be the only opportunity for Orange County residents to apply for many years to come. The Housing Choice Voucher Program is funded by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and enables OCHA to subsidize monthly rent payments for qualified applicants who live or work in 31 cities in Orange County. The Cities of Anaheim, Garden Grove, and Santa Ana operate their own housing authorities and have separate waiting lists for their residents. Continue reading→

Groundbreaking at Santa Ana’s Station District development on Jan. 10

Posted on by Posted in Civic Affairs, Development, Entertainment, Housing, Santa Ana 4 Comments

City of Santa Ana, Downtown Orange County

Friday January 6, 2012, 4:03 PM

Advisory: PRESS CONFERENCE ADVISORY Santa Ana Redevelopment Agency and Related California Break Ground on Station District

SANTA ANA, CA (January 6, 2012) – On Tuesday, January 10, 2012 at 3:00 pm at the project site at 600 N. Lacy Street in Santa Ana (Corner of Lacy Street and Santa Ana Blvd), a groundbreaking ceremony will be attended by City Officials, community members, and other partners . The City of Santa Ana Redevelopment Agency and Related California, a real estate developer specializing in affordable and market rate multifamily and mixed-use residential properties in California, have started construction on 74 units of apartment homes for low-income families in the Lacy Neighborhood of the Santa Ana Station District. Continue reading→

Solorio promotes mortgage assistance programs

Posted on by Posted in Housing, Jose Solorio, Santa Ana 1 Comment

Assemblyman Solorio Wants Homeowners to Know Mortgage Assistance Programs are Still Available and
Have Expanded Eligibility

Recent updates to the $2 billion program expected to help more families remain in their homes

ANAHEIM – State Assemblyman Jose Solorio (D-Anaheim) wants constituents to be aware that the “Keep Your Home California” program has expanded eligibility for homeowners struggling to remain in their homes.

“More people can avoid losing their homes with this additional assistance,” says Solorio. “Help is available for families receiving unemployment benefits, saddled with mortgages with high interest rates, or owing more on their mortgage than their home is worth.” Continue reading→

Rep. Sanchez blasts banks for illegally foreclosing on U.S. service members

Posted on by Posted in Banking, homeless, Housing, Military, Santa Ana, Veterans Leave a comment

Congresswoman Loretta Sanchez, Representing California’s 47th Congressional District
PRESS RELEASE, FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: November 30, 2011

MEDIA CONTACT: Adrienne Watson, 202-309-0825

REP. SANCHEZ RESPONDS TO REPORTS THAT BANKS HAVE ILLEGALLY FORECLOSED ON NEARLY 5,000 SERVICE MEMBERS

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congresswoman Loretta Sanchez (CA-47), senior member of the House Armed Services Committee, released the following statement in response to news that several banks may have foreclosed illegally on the homes of thousands of active-duty military members currently fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan. Data recently released by the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency indicates that nearly 5,000 military members may have been improperly foreclosed upon. Continue reading→

Santa Ana City Council to consider an affordable housing ordinance tonight

Posted on by Posted in Civic Affairs, Housing, Planning, Santa Ana 2 Comments

Not affordable housing…

The Santa Ana City Council wil be conducting a public hearing at tonight’s Council meeting, to review a Housing Ordinance drafted by the Planning and Building Agency, which has to do with affordable housing.  The ordinance was approved by the Planning Commission on September 26, 2011 by a 7-0 vote.

The ordinance will amend Chapter 41 of the Santa Ana Municipal Code, adding housing opportunity standards and procedures to encourage the development of housing that is affordable to a range of households with varying income levels. Continue reading→

Free help to save your home on 10/25 at the Assistance League of Santa Ana

Posted on by Posted in Federal Government, homeless, Housing, Santa Ana Leave a comment

Are you a homeowner facing mortgage payment challenges? If so, we invite you to get the answers you need at a Free Walk-In Housing Resource Center Every Tuesday from 12-4:30pm at the Assistance League of Santa Ana.  Get Free Help to Save Your Home!  Don’t miss this valuable opportunity to meet one-on-one with a HUD Approved Housing Counselor. Find out if you qualify for the Federal Making Home Affordable Program, Keep Your Home California Program or other loan workout options from your lender.

DATE: Every Tuesday from 12-4:30pm (Next session set for Oct. 25)

LOCATION: Assistance League of Santa Ana at 1037 West First Street, Santa Ana, CA 92703 (enter off 2nd Street). Continue reading→

So. Cal. Edison to build a Showcase Zero Net Energy home at the Great Park

Posted on by Posted in Environment, Green, Housing, irvine, Orange County, Parks and Recreation, Santa Ana Leave a comment

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: OCTOBER 20, 2011

CONTACT: JENN STARNES, 949-724-6574

Southern California Edison Selects Great ParkTo Showcase Zero Net Energy Home

Building will demonstrate the latest in energy-efficiency

IRVINE – The Orange County Great Park Board today authorized Chief Executive Officer Mike Ellzey to negotiate a lease with Southern California Edison for the construction of a Zero Net Energy Home. Continue reading→

O.C. Human Relations to launch a homelessness and mental health task force

Posted on by Posted in Charities, Entertainment, Fullerton, Health and Medical, homeless, Housing, Mental Health, Orange County, Santa Ana 1 Comment

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: October 19, 2011
Contact: Rusty Kennedy, Phone: (714) 567-7465

City of Fullerton Striving to Improve System of Care Launches the Fullerton Task Force on Homelessness and Mental Health Services, on Thursday, October 20, 4:00 pm @ the Fullerton Public Library

In the aftermath of the Kelly Thomas tragedy, the City of Fullerton is working to learn from this incident and make a change in the community. The City Council asked OC Human Relations to facilitate a task force of Fullerton residents and homeless/mental health experts to better understand the current situation of the mentally ill homeless and identify how the community might do better in the future. Continue reading→

O.C. Housing Authority receives $927,747 to assist homeless Veterans

Posted on by Posted in Charities, Federal Government, homeless, Housing, Military Industrial Complex, Orange County, Santa Ana, Veterans Leave a comment

Press Release, FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: August 22, 2011

Orange County Housing Authority Receives $927,747 to Assist Homeless Veterans Through the Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing Program

The Orange County Housing Authority (OCHA) has been awarded $927,747 to expand its ongoing Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing Program (VASH). This funding, from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), is a coordinated effort involving HUD, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, and local housing authorities to provide permanent housing for homeless veterans in conjunction with supportive services. Continue reading→

City of Santa Ana proposes a new Housing Opportunity Ordinance

Posted on by Posted in Civic Affairs, Development, Housing, Real Estate, Santa Ana 5 Comments

The City of Santa Ana General Plan Housing Element communicates goals, policies and programs to address the Santa Ana’s local and regional housing needs. The proposed Housing Opportunity Ordinance is one tool to ensure future residential development projects contribute to the attainment of the affordable housing goals set forth in the Housing Element of the City’s General Plan.

Below is listing of past meetings, as well as upcoming opportunities to participate in shaping the proposed Housing Opportunity Ordinance. For more information, contact Project Planner Sergio Klotz. Continue reading→