Kennedy Commission

Programs: The kennedy commission strives to increase the housing opportunities available to orange countys lowest income 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. The following summarizes the accomplishments of the commissions staff and volunteers in 2017:i. Implemented favorable policies-provided testimony in favor of 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. -authored changes to affordable housing opportunities ordinance and land use zoning in various county of orange cities. -used the affordable housing opportunities ordinance as a template for use in other orange county cities and worked with key cities to implement a similar tool in their jurisdictions. -used land use and planning models to improve health and 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, mission viejo, newport beach, santa ana, san clemente, tustin and yorba linda. -worked with county of orange on affordable housing commitments and addressing the homelessness crisis in orange county. -monitored huntington beach edinger corridor specific plan, laguna niguels gateway specific plan, tustin district specific plan, savy ranch, platinum triangle and station district residential overlays and promoted affordable housing policies. -participated in local and statewide housing policy groups, boards and committees. -worked on implementation of housing elements, sb 2 implementation, inclusionary zoning and density bonus ordinances in orange county cities. Ii. Increased financial resources-organized community analysis and response to annual state tax credit qualified action plan and state mhp regulations (in favor of balanced community and extremely low income family priorities). -coordinated with statewide housing organizations and advocates new state wide funding sources for affordable homes. I. E. Budget allocation, permanent source fund, housing bonds, cap and trade for affordable housing. -collaborated with local cities in orange county and state government on the use of housing funds, assets and properties from former redevelopment agencies (successor agencies). Ill. Increased public awarenessexpanded educational and communication tools including the updating of our website (www. Kennedycommission. Org) and e-mail contact list of over 1,000 persons and organizations. -sent monthly e-mail notices of community meetings and actions to over 1,000 persons. -conducted general membership meetings (with average attendance of 45 persons). Meeting topics included housing impacts on sustainable communities, mixed-use development, state budget, housing finance, local housing production, state and federal legislative updates, and letter writing campaigns. -hosted the annual oc lenders and investors forum that was attended by over 100 housing professionals and community members. -co-sponsored the annual affordable housing awards (2017) along with orange county community housing corporation and the affordable housing clearinghouse. The event was attended by over 200 housing professionals and community members. Iv. Increased community participation-organized community analysis and response to state tax credit qualified action plan and state mhp regulations (in favor of balanced community and extremely low income family priorities) and housing policies in housing elements and housing projects. Successes included the formation of a resident coalition in anaheim and in santa ana to review proposed developments and rezoning. The organization also obtained commitments from all orange county cities to implement stronger affordable housing policies and to review and mitigate barriers such as; local subsidy, excessive parking and zoning standards (focus was placed on anaheim, fullerton, huntington beach, irvine, laguna niguel, mission viejo, orange, san clemente and santa ana). -coordinated community member support (including letter writing and public testimony) of proposed affordable housing developments and redevelopment successor agencies 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.