CITY ATTORNEY
Sonia R. Carvalho
CITY MANAGER
Alvaro Nuñez
CITY CLERK
Jennifer L. Hall
20 CIVIC CENTER PLAZA - P.O. BOX 1988, M-31 - SANTA ANA, CALIFORNIA 92702 TELEPHONE (714) 647-6900 - FAX (714) 647-6954 - www.santa-ana.org
Councilmember-Requested Item Report
DATE
May 6, 2025
TOPIC
Ordinance requiring monthly City inspections of Permanent Supportive Housing communities within the City of Santa Ana.
COUNCILMEMBER-REQUESTED ITEM TITLE
Discuss and consider directing the City Manager to direct City staff to draft and bring back an ordinance for Council consideration that would require monthly City inspections of Permanent Supportive Housing communities within the City of Santa Ana and the posting of the results of those inspections on the City of Santa Ana’s website.
DISCUSSION
Permanent Supportive Housing (PSH) is permanent housing in which housing assistance (such as a long-term lease or rent assistance) and supportive services are provided to assist households with at least one member with a disability in achieving housing stability. The City of Santa Ana currently has eight PSH communities with almost 400 units. The occupants of these communities and units are some of our most vulnerable community members.
In February 2025, a PSH community in Santa Ana was a part of an ongoing investigation where police officers obtained and conducted a search warrant at an apartment for the sale of narcotics, including crack cocaine, heroin, methamphetamine, and fentanyl. This illegal and dangerous activity would not have been allowed to reach this magnitude if proper transparent oversight of PSH communities was in place. To allow our most vulnerable community members, especially those who are struggling to overcome drug dependency, to be exposed to rampant narcotic sales next to their homes is unacceptable.
I therefore request that the City Council direct the City Manager to direct City staff to draft and bring back an ordinance for Council consideration at the August 5 City Council meeting that would require monthly City inspections of Permanent Supportive Housing communities within the City of Santa Ana and the posting of the results of those inspections on the City of Santa Ana’s website.
SUBMITTED BY
Councilmember Phil Bacerra