201 S. Anaheim Blvd.
Tenth Floor
Anaheim, CA 92805
Tel: (714) 765-4300
Fax: (714) 765-4360
www.anaheim.net
CITY COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT
City of Anaheim
HOUSING & COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
DEPARTMENT
DATE: NOVEMBER 18, 2025
FROM: HOUSING & COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT
SUBJECT: HOMELESS HOUSING, ASSISTANCE AND PREVENTION
PROGRAM (HHAP) MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING
WITH COUNTY OF ORANGE, CITY OF SANTA ANA, AND
CITY OF IRVINE
ATTACHMENT (Y/N): YES ITEM # 10
GOVERNMENT CODE §84308 APPLIES: NO
RECOMMENDATION:
That the City Council, by Motion, approve the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Orange County Continuum of Care, County of Orange, and Cities of Irvine and Santa Ana for Round 6 of the Homeless Housing Assistance and Prevention Program Commitment to Partnership and Participation in a regionally coordinated homelessness Action Plan and authorize the City Manager, or his designee, to execute the MOU and take all other actions necessary to implement activities to coordinate homelessness housing interventions and supportive services in the region consistent with the guidance issued by the California Department of Housing and Community Development under the Homeless Housing, Assistance and Prevention Program (HHAP).
DISCUSSION:
The State of California has released six rounds of Homeless Housing, Assistance and Prevention (HHAP) funding to pursue homelessness reduction activities throughout the state. To date, the City of Anaheim has been allocated $39,316,104.24 across six HHAP rounds to fund local homelessness programs in the city. HHAP funding is the result of continued advocacy efforts on the part of the Big Cities Mayor’s Coalition, a collaboration of the leaders from the State's 14 largest cities who work together to champion the most crucial issues Californians face.
Eligible HHAP 6 entities within Orange County include the Cities of Anaheim, Santa Ana, and Irvine; the Orange County Continuum of Care (OC CoC); and the County of Orange.
Starting with Round 5, then again in Round 6, as a condition of funding, the State of California required completion and submission of a joint HHAP application from all eligible entities in the region. The application included an embedded Regionally Coordinated Homelessness Action Plan (Plan) and the need for a Memorandum of Homeless Housing, Assistance and Prevention Program Round 5 Memorandum of Understanding November 18, 2025
Understanding (MOU) that reflects a commitment by all entities to work towards the measurable goals and objectives outlined in the Plan. The purpose of the MOU is to ensure greater coordination and alignment in the use of HHAP funds amongst neighboring jurisdictions. OC CoC staff drafted the MOU for review and edits by the eligible HHAP 6 regional applicants. Following a series of edits by all parties, including the Anaheim City Attorney’s Office, the attached MOU will be executed to:
Identify each party’s roles and responsibilities
Outline Key Actions to Improve System Performance Measures Ensure racial and gender equity Key Action Implementation Align activities with the Housing First model
While the MOU is a commitment to regional coordination for the shared goal of reducing homelessness, it does not commit services funded by Anaheim’s HHAP allocation to the region. The goal of the MOU is to ensure that all HHAP-funded entities communicate, work collaboratively, and, whenever possible, leverage available resources to maximize impact and serve the greatest number of households experiencing homelessness. This commitment aligns with recent efforts to work with and leverage opportunities to address homelessness with the County and other localities.
The regional HHAP 6 application was submitted on September 30, 2025. The application included language indicating that the region would modify the HHAP 5 MOU to reflect the new requirements outlined in the HHAP 6 notice of funding availability. Since the submission of the application, the region has opted to create a new MOU that identifies each entity’s plan to address the new requirements in HHAP 6.
The City has been advised that the joint HHAP 6 application has undergone initial review and is engaging in revision efforts with the region to satisfy the State’s requirements for fund disbursement.
This activity aligns with the City’s Strategic Plan Goal B: Enhance Livability – Maintain and expand services to address homelessness and its impacts.
IMPACT ON BUDGET:
The MOU in itself does not have a budgetary impact as it is one component of a complete application.
Respectfully submitted,
Grace Ruiz-Stepter
Housing & Community Development Director
Attachment:
1. Homeless Housing, Assistance and Prevention Program Round 6 Memorandum of Understanding