From: Homeless United Huntington Beach
To: [email protected]
Cc: [email protected]
Subject: Draft Revisions to the 6th Cycle Housing Element – Public Comment Period May 14–21, 202 Date: Wednesday, May 20, 2026 11:25:46 PM
Homeless United HB is a community advocacy organization dedicated to finding and implementing solutions that reduce homelessness in Huntington Beach and the surrounding region. We submit the following comment during the public review period for the Draft Revisions to the 6th Cycle Housing Element Update, posted May 14, 2026.
We offer responses to Sections 3 and 4 revisions.
Section 3 — FAMILIES AND PERSONS IN NEED OF EMERGENCY SHELTER Our comments identify what we believe are factual inaccuracies in the Section 3 revision addressing AB 2339 compliance and the City's emergency shelter adequacy finding. We raise these not to obstruct certification, but because accurate data is the foundation of sound housing policy — and because the people these programs serve deserve a housing element that reflects reality.
CONCERN 1: THE HOMEKEY SITE OFFICIALLY TRANSITIONED TO
PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING ON AUGUST 29, 2025
The Section 3 revision asserts that the City meets the AB 2339 emergency shelter adequacy standard based on 236 combined beds: 174 at the Navigation Center and 62 units at Oasis Apartments (17251 Beach Blvd.). This inclusion is no longer accurate.
Oasis Apartments was always designed as a two-phase project. County of Orange agenda documents approving the original operating contract with American Family Housing described Phase 1 as "interim housing providing 62 units for a period of up to five years" that would "ultimately be converted into permanent supportive housing for low-income residents." That conversion is complete. On August 29, 2025, the Orange County Housing Authority issued its official public notice and began accepting applications for the 62 studio units as permanent, voucher-backed supportive housing — eight months before the City posted these revisions.
The 2024 OC PIT Count correctly counted the 62 units as sheltered transitional housing, which was accurate at the time. The revision does not acknowledge the subsequent transition and continues to count Oasis Apartments as shelter capacity under AB 2339, which it is no longer.
Under California housing law, emergency shelter, transitional housing, and permanent supportive housing are distinct program types with different regulatory definitions. Permanent supportive housing cannot be counted toward a city's emergency shelter bed capacity under Government Code Section 65583(a)(4)(F).
We respectfully request that the City and HCD update the shelter adequacy analysis to reflect Oasis Apartments' current PSH status and recalculate compliance using the Navigation Center as the sole qualifying shelter resource.
CONCERN 2: THE NAVIGATION CENTER CAPACITY FIGURE IS
INCONSISTENT WITH THE CITY'S OWN WEBSITE
The Section 3 revision states the Navigation Center has a capacity of 174 beds. However, the City's Homeless Solutions webpage (huntingtonbeachca.gov, accessed May 2026) currently states capacity of 164 adults and couples — a 10-bed discrepancy that should be reconciled.
The accurate figure matters because the adequacy calculation is already extremely tight: the City's 2022 PIT baseline was 188 unsheltered persons, and the 2024 PIT count showed 173 unsheltered persons in Huntington Beach. At either capacity figure, the margin between the Navigation Center's standalone capacity and identified unsheltered need is razor thin — before accounting for PIT undercount limitations (people in vehicles, un-surveyed locations, and temporary situations) and normal operational fluctuations.
CONCERN 3: THE NEED BASELINE IS ACTIVELY BEING SUPERSEDED The housing element revision relies primarily on the 2022 PIT count (188 unsheltered). While the 2024 count showed modest improvement (173 unsheltered), HB's total homeless population grew from 330 to 433 over that same period, reflecting sustained and increasing overall need.
The 2026 Orange County PIT Count was conducted January 27–29, 2026, results were released on Monday, May 18th, — during this very comment period. We respectfully request that the revised Housing Element incorporate the 2026 city-specific figures before finalizing its adequacy determination.
We recognize the genuine progress the City's investment in the Navigation Center represents, and the Oasis Apartments' transition to permanent supportive housing is itself a positive outcome — exactly what the Homekey program was designed to achieve. We raise these concerns in that same spirit: to ensure the housing element accurately reflects current conditions.
Presentation Suggestion: A timeline or chart explaining the development of the Navigation Center (why bed count declined and the plan for a permanent NC and Supportive Housing on the current site), alongside a chronology of the Project Homekey/Oasis transition from interim shelter to permanent housing, would help the community understand these resources and their impact on meeting housing needs.
Review Suggestion: We recommend that the Homeless and Behavioral Health Manager review this document.
Section 4 Revisions — Program Updates
the Site Plan?
to include properties belonging to other agencies, school districts, and faith communities, which represent potential sources of low-income and permanent supportive housing.
Homekey's transition to Oasis.
Small projects of fewer than 75 units have had significant impact on stable affordable housing in Huntington Beach and are worth actively pursuing by city leaders. We acknowledge the work of the faith communities and non-profits to support families that struggle to meet food and housing needs. Their collaboration with the city have a significant impact to prevent homelessness in Huntington Beach.
Respectfully submitted,
Pat Goodman,
Homeless United HB
Need Help - Give Help: 211 OC 24/7 Hotline or www.211oc.org City of Huntington Beach, Homeless Task Force: www.huntingtonbeachca.gov/homelessness/ HTF Case Managers Message: 714-536-5576
HBPD Non-emergency: 714-960-8825
Use App: MyHB [email protected]
www.facebook.com/pg/HomelessUnitedHB/posts/
HUHB is a network of representatives from the faith communities, nonprofits and advocates for those in need of clean, safe, affordable housing in our city. HUHB usually meets on the 3rd Thursday of every month, 7:00 pm, via Zoom. You may mail inquiries c/o CUMC, 6652 Heil Ave., Huntington Beach 92647 From: Terry Park CommUNITY
To: [email protected]
Subject: Senior Housing
Date: Sunday, May 17, 2026 3:28:09 PM
You don't often get email from [email protected]. Learn why this is important Pretty disturbing that you all talk about senior housing and quality of life in HB then try to put in a 24/7 warehouse operation next to a senior housing complex and park. Ever heard of sensitive receptors?
Just STOP shoving high density low income senior narrative down our throats when you dont really care about the people in HB
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From: Ketrin Adam
To: [email protected]
Subject: Public Comments for Housing Plan
Date: Wednesday, May 20, 2026 11:53:46 AM
You don't often get email from [email protected]. Learn why this is important Dear Huntington Beach City Council Members,
I am writing as a resident of Huntington Beach who strongly supports the immediate implementation of the state-required housing plan in order to avoid the unnecessary $50,000 penalties and continued waste of taxpayer resources on litigation.
I live at 20241 Everglades Lane, near Hawes Elementary School, and I have watched with disappointment as the City continues to spend significant amounts of money fighting housing requirements rather than addressing the real quality-of-life concerns impacting families in our community.
For example, the playground equipment at the park serving Hawes Elementary has noticeably deteriorated over the years. The slide was removed several years ago and was never replaced.
Today, the condition of the playground and equipment is frankly unacceptable for one of the major elementary school areas in our city. These are the types of issues residents and families see every day.
Instead of continuing costly and ultimately unproductive legal battles, I urge the City to implement the housing plan immediately and move forward. Additional housing will bring new residents, families, and tax revenue that can help support our schools, parks, infrastructure, students, and local businesses.
Huntington Beach should focus on improving the community and investing in the needs of current and future residents, not wasting public funds on frivolous lawsuits that do not improve daily life for families who live here.
Please implement the plan and move on so the City can focus its energy and resources on serving the community.
Respectfully,
Ketrin Adam
20241 Everglades Lane
Huntington Beach, CA