Community Development Agency
www.santa-ana.org/cd
Item # 18
City of Santa Ana
20 Civic Center Plaza, Santa Ana, CA 92701
Staff Report
December 2, 2025
TOPIC: MOU Between the Orange County Continuum of Care, the County of Orange, the City of Anaheim, the City of Irvine, and the City of Santa Ana for Homeless Housing, Assistance and Prevention – Round 6 Program Regional Coordination
AGENDA TITLE
Memorandum of Understanding Between the County of Orange, acting as the Administrative Entity for the County of Orange and the Orange County Continuum of Care, the City of Anaheim, the City of Irvine, and the City of Santa Ana for the Homeless Housing, Assistance and Prevention Program Regional Coordination
RECOMMENDED ACTION
Authorize the City Manager to execute the Memorandum of Understanding with the County of Orange, the City of Anaheim, and the City of Irvine, to support regional coordination to address homelessness challenges (Agreement No. A-2025-XXX).
GOVERNMENT CODE §84308 APPLIES: No
DISCUSSION
On February 24, 2025, the California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) announced the availability of funding under the Homeless Housing, Assistance, and Prevention (HHAP) Program, Round 6 (HHAP-6). HHAP-6 will create a Regionally Coordinated Homelessness Action Plan to implement homelessness programs and resources through a coordinated approach across Orange County that will coordinate housing solutions and prevention services.
Pursuant to HCD’s Notice of Funding Availability, the Orange County Continuum of Care (CoC), the County of Orange, the City of Anaheim, the City of Irvine, and the City of Santa Ana are eligible applicants for HHAP-6. HCD requires that these applicants apply jointly as part of a “region.” Since the inception of the HHAP Program that HCD administers, the Orange County region has successfully received five (5) rounds of HHAP funding.
As part of the application requirements, each eligible applicant must execute a joint Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to formalize participation, roles, and responsibilities under the HHAP-6 Regionally Coordinated Homelessness Action Plan.
To meet this requirement, staff from each of these jurisdictions collaborated to draft an MOU for consideration by their respective governing bodies. The MOU authorizes the
MOU Between the Orange County Continuum of Care, County of Orange, and the Cities of Anaheim and Irvine for HHAP-6 Funding
December 2, 2025
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regional application and establishes a partnership to strengthen regional goals and coordinate efforts to address the needs of homeless individuals and families through the use of HHAP-6 funds. These goals include working closely with the CoC and strengthening systemic efforts and processes to demonstrate a reduction in the number of persons experiencing or entering homelessness annually.
To date, the City of Santa Ana has received a total of $33,665,250 from HHAP Rounds 1 through 5. The City anticipates receiving an additional $5,947,585 once the HHAP Round 6 regional application is approved, and the City intends to continue implementing the same activities that were funded under HHAP Rounds 1–5. The exact scope will depend on the amount of funding awarded. If funding levels are lower than prior rounds, the City will still prioritize maintaining the same core activities in order to sustain existing programs and meet ongoing service needs. This regional approach promotes coordination while maintaining local control over funds, ensuring that each jurisdiction can address homelessness within its community while contributing to countywide goals of reducing and preventing homelessness.
Through HHAP funding from Rounds 1 through 5, the City has assisted nearly 14,000 individuals and families who are either experiencing homelessness or at imminent risk of becoming homeless. These funds have been instrumental in supporting the City’s ongoing efforts to promote housing stability and improve outcomes for vulnerable residents. Services include, but are not limited to:
shelter operations at the Carnegie Navigation Center;
rapid rehousing that provides case management to help homeless with housing search services, and temporary financial assistance for rent and move-in expenses;
life skills development that assist the unhoused prepare for employment and become document ready for the housing application process; street outreach and engagement to encourage the unhoused to accept shelter and/or medical/substance use disorder treatment;
landlord engagement to identify available housing; and transitional housing that provides temporary housing with supportive services for a few months up to two years.
The CoC Board presented this MOU (Exhibit 1) for approval on October 22nd. The City of Irvine received City Council approval to enter into an MOU for HHAP Round 6 on November 12th, followed by the City of Anaheim on November 18. The County of Orange will present this MOU (Exhibit 1) to the Board of Supervisors for approval on December 16th.
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT
There is no environmental impact associated with the action.
MOU Between the Orange County Continuum of Care, County of Orange, and the Cities of Anaheim and Irvine for HHAP-6 Funding
December 2, 2025
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FISCAL IMPACT
There is no fiscal impact associated with this item.
EXHIBIT(S)
1. MOU HHAP Round 6
Submitted By: Michael L. Garcia, Executive Director – Community Development Agency Approved By: Alvaro Nuñez, City Manager