On June 23, 2022, the Orange County Grand Jury released its 2021-2022 Grand Jury Report, How is Orange County Addressing Homelessness?  The purpose of the report was to study the Orange County Continuum of Care (CoC) to understand how the County is working to address homelessness and evaluate the collaborative efforts led by the CoC and Orange County Office of Care Coordination.  While the collaborative efforts have resulted in progress in the fight against homelessness, including a system of care across multiple levels of government programs and community providers, the system has shortcomings and bottlenecks.

In compliance with Penal Code 933.05 (a) and (b), the City is required to provide a response to each of the findings and recommendations directed to the City Council by September 21, 2022.  Specifically, the City is to respond to two of the report findings (F3 and F4) and three recommendations (R4, R5, and R6). 

F3 states that the County of Orange and cities within Orange County have been inconsistent in collaboration for support of shelters and services, which has resulted in missed opportunities to end homelessness and F4 states there are an insufficient number of rental units available to those exiting Emergency Shelters, resulting in the majority returning to homelessness when leaving the shelters.  In response to these findings, the following recommendations were made by the Grand Jury, to which the City must respond:  By July, 1, 2024, the County of Orange and cities should collaborate to open facilities that can house people with severe and persistent mental illness and addiction issues in a secure setting (R4); By July 1, 2023, the County of Orange, cities and CoC should collaborate to encourage the development of housing affordable to individuals exiting the emergency shelters in Orange County (R5); and By December 1, 2022, the County of Orange, cities and CoC should collaborate to increase the number of housing opportunities for Transitional Aged Youth (R6). 

The attached response states that the City disagrees partially with F3 and agrees with F4. A broad list of examples that highlight the City’s collaborative efforts working with the County and other agencies to support homeless shelters and services and increase affordable housing is provided. The City’s response to recommendations R4, R5, and R6 highlights Garden Grove’s efforts to develop a “low barrier” navigation center in the Central Service Planning Area, provide affordable and permanent supportive housing, and increase the number of housing opportunities for Transitional Aged Youth.  The great need for additional funding to help jurisdictions develop affordable housing is also noted.

It is recommended that the City Council:

• Approve the attached response and authorize submittal to the Orange County Grand Jury.