Community Development Agency
www.santa-ana.org/cd
Item # 3
City of Santa Ana
20 Civic Center Plaza, Santa Ana, CA 92701
Staff Report
March 17, 2026
TOPIC: Public Hearing Regarding the Fiscal Year 2026-2027 Housing Authority Annual Plan
AGENDA TITLE
Public Hearing Regarding the Fiscal Year 2026-2027 Housing Authority Annual Plan Legal Notice Published in the OC Reporter and Nguoi Viet on January 30, 2026 and in La Opinión on January 31, 2026
RECOMMENDED ACTION
1. Conduct a public hearing regarding the approval of the Housing Authority Annual Plan for Fiscal Year 2026-2027.
2. Adopt a resolution approving the Housing Authority Annual Plan for Fiscal Year 2026-2027 and directing the Executive Director of the Housing Authority to submit the Annual Plan to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.
RESOLUTION NO. 2026-XXX entitled A RESOLUTION OF THE HOUSING
AUTHORITY OF THE CITY OF SANTA ANA APPROVING THE SUBMISSION OF THE ANNUAL PLAN FOR FISCAL YEAR 2026-2027
GOVERNMENT CODE §84308 APPLIES: No
DISCUSSION
U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) requires housing authorities that administer a Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) program to have a 5-Year Plan and Annual Plan for the management and operation of the program. The general purpose of the 5-Year Plan is to advise HUD, program participants, applicants, and members of the public on SAHA’s local policies, programs, operations, and strategies for meeting local housing needs and goals.
This Fiscal Year 2026-2027 Housing Authority Annual Plan covers the second reporting year of the 5-Year Plan adopted by the Santa Anan Housing Authority (SAHA) in 2025 and reports on the progress made relating to the following topics: (1) new activities to be undertaken by the Housing Authority in the next reporting year (fiscal year 2026-2027);
Housing Authority Annual Plan
March 17, 2026
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(2) findings from the most recent reporting year audit (fiscal year 2025-2026); and (3) annual progress the Housing Authority has made in meeting the goals and objectives described in the 5-Year Plan (Exhibit 1).
Regarding topics 1 through 3 in the Annual Plan, the following provides an update for this fiscal year as follows:
(1) New Activities: SAHA will continue to focus on implementing and making progress to achieve the goals and objectives in the adopted 5-Year Plan. No additional activities are proposed.
(2) Audit Findings: SAHA continues to be in compliance with all housing regulations.
No audit findings.
(3) Annual Progress: SAHA successfully advanced its strategic goals and objectives described in the 5-Year Plan as follows:
a. SAHA fully utilized the HUD funding as follows:
i. Achieved 102.7% utilization of its Annual Budget Authority, and ii. Secured additional funding including 25 Foster Youth to Independence vouchers and $312,475 in Mainstream Voucher Program Set-Aside funds.
b. SAHA expanded self-sufficiency opportunities as follows:
i. 136 active Family Self-Sufficiency (FSS) participants, and ii. 15 FSS program graduates.
c. SAHA continued to strengthen landlord engagement and fair housing compliance through monthly landlord newsletters, active participation in industry organizations, and required fair housing training for staff. d. SAHA exceeded HUD’s quality control review requirements. e. SAHA maintained strong program integrity by earning a High Performer designation from HUD for the eighth year in a row.
SAHA staff actively sought community input for the development of the Fiscal Year 2026-2027 Housing Authority Annual Plan by hosting three (3) ad hoc Resident Advisory Board meetings on February 6, 2026 with 50 HCV participants who receive assistance from SAHA. The meetings were conducted in three (3) languages: English, Spanish, and Vietnamese. There were 15 Vietnamese-speaking, 31 English-speaking, and four Spanish-speaking participants who attended each meeting. The meeting invitation was emailed to 1,667 HCV participants in English, Spanish, and Vietnamese. The 50 members of the ad hoc Resident Advisory Board provided input for the development of the Annual Plan. SAHA also conducted a survey that was e- mailed to 1,667 HCV participants who have provided their e-mail address to SAHA. A total of 21 responses were received to the survey.
The comments from the Resident Advisory Board and survey are attached to the Annual Plan. Staff analyzed all of the recommendations from the Resident Advisory Board and survey responses by: (1) considering the feasibility of each recommendation; (2) discussing as a team how the SAHA could implement each recommendation; and (3) making a determination on which recommendations could be implemented or considered for future implementation. All of the recommendations were taken into Housing Authority Annual Plan
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consideration by staff and incorporated into the Annual Plan.
On January 30 and 31, 2026, a legal notice was published in the Orange County Reporter, Nguoi Viet, and La Opinión advising the public that a draft of the Annual Plan was available for public review and comment and a public hearing would be held on March 17, 2026 (Exhibit 2). The Annual Plan was also made available on SAHA’s website, in the SAHA lobby, and at the reference desk in the Delhi Library. HUD’s federal regulations require a 45-day public comment period and the public comment period ends on March 17, 2026. All public comments received will be included in the Annual Plan submitted to HUD.
FISCAL IMPACT
There is no fiscal impact associated with this action.
EXHIBITS
1. Housing Authority Annual Plan
2. Proofs of Publication
3. Resolution
Submitted By: Michael L. Garcia, Executive Director, Community Development Agency Approved By: Alvaro Nuñez, City Manager