Irvine's Efforts in Preventing Homelessness

Monday, May 7, 2018

The City Council’s long-term goal is to PREVENT homelessness.

  • We continue to support preventive measures with our professional staff, with our partners, and importantly, with dedicated funds each and every fiscal year.  Here are examples:
    • The City Council approved $29.2 million from the state’s redevelopment settlement to the City of Irvine – money guaranteed over several years – that will go to the City’s affordable housing through the Irvine Community Land Trust. There are currently more than 4,000 affordable housing units throughout the City.
       
    • Councilmember Melissa Fox is Chair of the nonprofit organization (Irvine Community Land Trust) that provides permanent affordable housing opportunities in Irvine, and Mayor Pro Tem Christina Shea is a Board Member.
       
    • Additionally, a division of the Community Services Department, FOR Families, is budgeted at more than $200,000 a year. Our staff is assigned to work directly with families in areas of concern such as stress and depression; substance abuse; and family violence. Resources include financial help and health care.
       
    • We have two full-time police officers assigned each day to respond to those in need of mental health help and services. One of them is a homeless liaison.
       
    • Separately, affordable housing continues to be built throughout the City. In May 2018, the privately built, 80-unit Parc Derian Apartments was finished and ready for occupancy in the Irvine Business Complex. The permanently affordable community is reserved for households earning between 30 percent and 50 percent of the Area Median Income, helping a wide range of otherwise at-risk citizens who include veterans, developmentally disabled, and previously homeless families.