Kennedy Commission

THE PURPOSE OF THIS CORPORATION IS TO PROVIDE EDUCATIONAL AND CHARITABLE ASSISTANCE TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC BY ORGANIZING AND CONDUCTING COMMUNITY ORIENTED PROGRAMS AIMED AT IMPROVING THE QUALITY AND AVAILABILITY OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING.

THE KENNEDY COMMISSION STRIVES TO INCREASE EQUITABLE AND AFFORDABLE HOUSING OPPORTUNITIES FOR ORANGE COUNTYS LOWEST INCOME FAMILIES AND WORKERS. THE COMMISSIONS GOALS ARE: 1) TO IMPLEMENT POLICIES AND ORDINANCES IN EACH COUNTY JURISDICTION THAT ENCOURAGE AFFORDABLE HOUSING PRODUCTION; 2) TO INCREASE FINANCIAL RESOURCES AVAILABLE FOR THE PRODUCTION OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING; 3) TO INCREASE PUBLIC AWARENESS OF THE NEED FOR AND BENEFITS OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING; AND 4) TO INCREASE PUBLIC PARTICIPATION IN THE SUPPORT OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING PRODUCTION AND LAND-USE REFORM THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY. 5) ENSURE THAT PUBLIC LAND AND LOCAL CITYS LAND USE AND HOUSING INVESTMENTS EQUITABLY ADDRESS THE NEED TO INCREASE AFFORDABLE HOUSING FOR LOWER INCOME HOUSEHOLDS. THE FOLLOWING SUMMARIZES THE ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF THE COMMISSIONS STAFF AND VOLUNTEERS IN 2021:I. IMPLEMENTED FAVORABLE POLICIESCOLLABORATED WITH COMMUNITY PARTNERS TO PROVIDE COMMENTS AND RECOMMENDATIONS ON LAND USE AND HOUSING POLICIES TO ALL CITIES IN ORANGE COUNTY IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF THEIR HOUSING ELEMENTS.-WORKED TO STRENGTHEN AND IMPLEMENT THE CA SURPLUS LAND ACT TO ENSURE THAT IT PRIORITIZES THE DEVELOPMENT OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING ON PUBLIC LANDS. EX. ANAHEIM STADIUM LANDS, TUSTIN LEGACY AND WILLOWICK IN GARDEN GROVE.. PROVIDED TESTIMONY AND EDUCATION ON VARIOUS AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND LAND USE REFORM POLICIES AND HOMELESSNESS AT STATE ASSEMBLY AND SENATE COMMITTEES, ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS, AND VARIOUS CITY PLANNING COMMISSIONS AND CITY COUNCILS.. DEVELOPED BEST PRACTICES AND MODEL AFFORDABLE HOUSING POLICIES FOR USE AND IMPLEMENTATION IN ORANGE COUNTY CITIES.-WORKED WITH KEY CITIES TO DEVELOP AND IMPLEMENT AFFORDABLE HOUSING TOOLS AND POLICIES IN THEIR JURISDICTIONS.-WORKED WITH LAND USE AND HOUSING POLICIES TO IMPROVE HEALTH AND EQUITY TO BUILD A LIVING HEALTHY ENVIRONMENT.-ORGANIZED COMMUNITY SUPPORT FOR THE INCLUSION OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN ANAHEIM, BUENA PARK, COSTA MESA, FULLERTON, GARDEN GROVE, HUNTINGTON BEACH, IRVINE, LAKE FOREST, MISSION VIEJO, NEWPORT BEACH, SANTA ANA, TUSTIN, LAGUNA NIGUEL, SAN CLEMENTE AND LAGUNA BEACH.-WORKED WITH COUNTY OF ORANGE ON AFFORDABLE HOUSING COMMITMENTS AND ADDRESSING THE HOMELESSNESS CRISIS IN ORANGE COUNTY. . MONITORED CITY OF SANTA ANA SPECIFIC PLANS AND GENERAL PLAN, HUNTINGTON BEACH-EDINGER CORRIDOR SPECIFIC PLAN, WESTMINSTER BEACH CORRIDOR, LAGUNA SPECIFIC PLAN, TUSTIN MARKET PLACE,TUSTIN DISTRICT SPECIFIC PLAN, SAVY RANCH, PLATINUM TRIANGLE, ANAHEIM HOUSING OPPORTUNITIES RESIDENTIAL OVERLAYS AND STANTONS TINA PACIFIC NEIGHBORHOOD AND GARDEN GROVE SURPLUS LAND. -PARTNERED TO PROMOTE AFFORDABLE HOUSING POLICIES AND DEVELOPMENTS IN ALL OC CITIES.. PARTICIPATED IN LOCAL AND STATEWIDE HOUSING POLICY GROUPS, BOARDS AND COMMITTEES TO INCREASE KNOWLEDGE AND AWARENESS OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING SOLUTIONS.. WORKED ON THE EDUCATION AND BEST PRACTICES OF HOUSING ELEMENTS, AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND HOMELESSNESS SOLUTIONS, INCLUSIONARY ZONING AND DENSITY BONUS ORDINANCES IN ORANGE COUNTY CITIES. II. INCREASED FINANCIAL RESOURCES. ORGANIZED COMMUNITY ANALYSIS AND RESPONSE TO ANNUAL STATE REGULATORY AND FINANCE HOUSING PROGRAMS(SUPPORTING INVESTMENTS IN BALANCED COMMUNITY AND EXTREMELY LOW-INCOME FAMILY PRIORITIES). . COORDINATED WITH STATEWIDE HOUSING ORGANIZATIONS AND ADVOCATES ON NEW STATEWIDE FUNDING SOURCES FOR AFFORDABLE HOMES. I.E., BUDGET ALLOCATION, PERMANENT SOURCE FUNDING AND TAX CREDITS FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND FEDERAL FUNDING.-COLLABORATED WITH LOCAL CITIES IN ORANGE COUNTY AND STATE GOVERNMENT ON THE USE OF HOUSING FUNDS, ASSETS AND SURPLUS PROPERTIES FROM FORMER REDEVELOPMENT AGENCIES, SB 2 MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES ACT FUNDS, PERMANENT SOURCE FUNDING AND FEDERAL HOUSING FUNDS.-COLLABORATED WITH ORANGE COUNTY HOUSING TRUST AND THE OC FINANCE TRUST TO HELP ADDRESS AFFORDABLE, PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING FINANCE GAPS, AND EXPLORE ALTERNATIVE HOUSING FUNDING.-WORKED TO PRIORITIZE PUBLIC LANDS TO BE USED AS LOCAL CONTRIBUTIONS TO LEVERAGE AFFORDABLE HOUSING FUNDS AND GRANTS FROM THE STATE. III. INCREASED PUBLIC AWARENESS-DEVELOPED THE 2021-29 HOUSING ELEMENT CAMPAIGN TO CREATE AWARENESS AND CAPACITY IN LOCAL COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND PARTNERS TO ADVOCATE FOR EFFECTIVE AND EQUITABLE HOUSING PLANS IN ALL OC CITIES.-CREATED COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AND CAPACITY BUILDING TRAININGS ON AFFORDABLE HOUSING POLICIES AND PROGRAMS.-EXPANDED EDUCATIONAL AND COMMUNICATION TOOLS INCLUDING THE UPDATING OF OUR WEBSITE (WWW.KENNEDYCOMMISSION.ORG) AND E-MAIL CONTACT LIST OF OVER 2,500 PERSONS AND ORGANIZATIONS.-DEVELOPED AND CIRCULATED MONTHLY E-MAIL NOTICES OF COMMUNITY MEETINGS AND ACTIONS TO OVER 2,500 PERSONS AND ORGANIZATIONS.-CONDUCTED MONTHLY GENERAL MEMBERSHIP MEETINGS AND WORKSHOPS (WITH AVERAGE ATTENDANCE OF 45 PERSONS). MEETING TOPICS INCLUDED HOUSING IMPACTS ON ECONOMY, LOCAL HOUSING PLANS, MIXED-USE DEVELOPMENT, STATE BUDGET, HOUSING FINANCE, LOCAL HOUSING PRODUCTION, STATE AND FEDERAL LEGISLATIVE UPDATES.-HOSTED THE ANNUAL OC LENDERS AND INVESTORS FORUM VIRTUALLY THAT WAS ATTENDED BY OVER 80 HOUSING PROFESSIONALS AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS. -HOUSING ELEMENT CAMPAIGN 2021-29 TO DEVELOPMENT AND IMPLEMENT ORANGE COUNTYS 2021 -29 HOUSING PLANS FOR EACH OC CITY. IV. INCREASED COMMUNITY PARTICIPATION-ORGANIZED COMMUNITY ANALYSIS AND RESPONSE TO LOCAL AND STATE HOUSING POLICIES FOR IMPLEMENTATION IN THE HOUSING ELEMENTS, LAND USE AND HOUSING PROJECTS. SUCCESSES INCLUDED THE CONTINUED CAPACITY BUILDING AND FORMATION OF RESIDENT COALITIONS IN ANAHEIM, COSTA MESA, MISSION VIEJO, BUENA PARK, COUNTY OF ORANGE, LAGUNA HILLS AND IN SANTA ANA TO BE ENGAGED IN THE REVIEW OF PROPOSED DEVELOPMENTS AND LAND USE DECISIONS. -WE ALSO OBTAINED COMMITMENTS FROM ALL ORANGE COUNTY CITIES TO IMPLEMENT STRONGER AFFORDABLE HOUSING POLICIES AND TO REVIEW AND MITIGATE BARRIERS SUCH AS LACK OF LOCAL HOUSING SUBSIDY, AVAILABILITY OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING SITES AND LAND USE AND ZONING CONSTRAINTS (FOCUS WAS PLACED ON ANAHEIM, FULLERTON, FOUNTAIN VALLEY, TUSTIN, HUNTINGTON BEACH, IRVINE, MISSION VIEJO, ORANGE, WESTMINSTER, AND SANTA ANA).-COORDINATED COMMUNITY MEMBER SUPPORT AND EDUCATION OF PROPOSED AFFORDABLE HOUSING DEVELOPMENTS AND REUSE OF PUBLIC LANDS FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN THE CITIES OF ANAHEIM, BUENA PARK, COSTA MESA, FULLERTON, HUNTINGTON BEACH, IRVINE, LAGUNA NIGUEL, MISSION VIEJO, NEWPORT BEACH, ORANGE, SAN CLEMENTE, SANTA ANA, TUSTIN, WESTMINSTER, AND YORBA LINDA.-DEVELOPED AND SUPPORTED RESIDENT LED WORKING GROUPS IN EACH ORANGE COUNTY CITY TO ENGAGE IN EVALUATION AND RECOMMENDATIONS OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING POLICIES AND PROGRAMS IN EACH OC CITY. -WORKED WITH 50 LOW INCOME RESIDENTS THAT ARE IMPACTED BY THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING CRISIS IN OC TO BUILD THEIR CAPACITY AND SKILLS TO ADVOCATE FOR MORE AFFORDABLE AND EQUITABLE HOUSING OPTIONS.