ORANGE COUNTY, CALIFORNIA — Orange County Supervisor Katrina Foley commented on the following agenda items from today’s Board of Supervisors meeting that improves the County’s ability to address the homelessness and affordable housing crises and help recently-incarcerated individuals re-enter the community.
$6 Million in County Funding and up to 48 Project Based Vouchers approved from County of Orange to City of Costa Mesa and City of Newport Beach Homekey Project: To maximize the State of California’s Round 3 of Homekey funding, Supervisor Foley brought forward more than $6 million and 48 Project Based Vouchers for conversion of a blighted motel in Costa Mesa into permanent supportive housing for Veterans and residents of Costa Mesa, Newport Beach, and Orange County.
“On March 31, 2023, I sent a letter to every local elected official in District 5 to apply for Round 3 of the State’s Homekey funding. I remain grateful that my hometown of Costa Mesa continues to take advantage of the Homekey program and utilized a collaborative approach with funding from the City of Newport Beach,” said Supervisor Foley. “Through the County’s investment of more than $6 million and 48 Project Based Vouchers, this project will apply for nearly $25 million in funding from the State. This project will turn a blighted motel into housing opportunities for our veterans while improving the overall safety and security of our community. I look forward to working with the developer, American Family Housing, and the Cities of Costa Mesa and Newport Beach, as we move forward in this process to ensure this project cares for our most vulnerable residents.”
Partnership Agreement on Homeless Housing, Assistance and Prevention (Item 24): Agreement between the County of Orange and the three largest cities, including for the first time the City of Irvine to improve coordinated response to homelessness in Orange County. This agreement brings home $5,092,955 to the City of Irvine in the fourth round of the Homeless Housing, Assistance and Prevention (HHAP) Program.
“The homelessness crisis requires a coordinated response between local and County leaders,” said Supervisor Foley. “This agreement between our three largest cities improves our approach to solving homelessness in Orange County by making our region more competitive for critical state funding. The City of Irvine intends to apply 18 percent of the funds for homelessness prevention. I remain committed to taking meaningful steps to reduce and prevent homelessness in our communities. This agreement demonstrates urgent action taken to connect our unhoused neighbors to permanent stable housing.”
Re-Entry Success Center Services (Item 12): Approved $5.6 million in additional funding for re-entry success services for recently incarcerated individuals, including case management, housing assistance and navigation, transportation, mild to moderate mental health and substance use counseling, peer support and linkage to community resources.
“While this funding allows for increased staffing and extended hours of operations, I’m concerned about hourly rates for individuals who help those who are struggling in our community," said Supervisor Foley. “As we move forward in this contract, I want to make sure we have quality, living wages for staff so they don’t struggle despite working so hard. I look forward to the outcomes of these increased services for those recently incarcerated and evaluate how we can ultimately help more people in Orange County.”
The Board of Supervisors also recognized this week as Probation Services Week, which honors the work of probation professionals. This year, the theme for Probation Services Week is “Stronger Together," which focuses on recruitment of passionate individuals to pursue a career in supporting efforts to rehabilitate juveniles and reduce recidivism.
“Our probation department is at a pivotal moment in the county’s history,” said Supervisor Foley. “I thank the probation department for all your work to support the 10,000 adults and 800 juvenile clients in your care. As a member of the Juvenile Justice Coordinating Council (JJCC), we work together with our government and community partners to make sure our programs remain evidence-based, data-driven, and results-oriented. In Orange County, we fully lean into rehabilitation to ensure the individuals in our juvenile halls and centers are trained with skills they can take out into the community and become good citizens with stable, secure lives.”
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Orange County Supervisor Katrina Foley was elected to the Board of Supervisors in 2022 to represent the newly established District 5, which includes the cities of Aliso Viejo, Costa Mesa, Dana Point, a large portion of Irvine, Laguna Beach, Laguna Hills, Laguna Niguel, Laguna Woods, Newport Beach, San Clemente, San Juan Capistrano, as well as the unincorporated areas of Coto de Caza, Emerald Bay, Ladera Ranch, Las Flores, Rancho Mission Viejo, Stonecliffe and Wagon Wheel. This is her second term on the Board of Supervisors, where she previously served District 2.
Supervisor Foley’s Board appointments include the Orange County Fire Authority (OCFA), OCFA Legislation & Public Affairs Committee Chair, Orange County Transportation Authority, Transportation Corridor Agency (TCA), TCA Joint Environmental Committee, Coastal Greenbelt Authority, Newport Bay and South Orange County Watershed Executive Committees, Ocean Institute, San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station (SONGS) Community Engagement Panel, Spent Fuel Solutions Coalition Co-Chair, Law Library Board of Trustees, Orange County Housing Finance Trust, Local Agency Formation Commission (alt), Orange County Juvenile Justice Coordinating Council, and OC Public Libraries Advisory Board.
