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They are suggesting that they are open to going to other organizations or agencies where it may be more convenient for people to apply. PUBLIC COMMENT: Cheryl Bilovich read a prepared statement, as follows: We would like to thank the Orange County Public Housing Authority for their consideration and effort in modifying the Section 8 Administrative Plan and PHA Annual Update based on community feedback. We look forward to working with the PHA to open more opportunities and apartment doors to the disability community. In the upcoming months, we would like to work to enable people with disabilities to successfully apply for Section 8 housing. This would include initiating work on applications for many of our members. We would like pre-application farms to be readily available at the PHA and on sites throughout the disability community and are open to working together towards this goal. We also are vitally concerned that the date for opening the waiting list be earlier than September 2, 2004. We feel that the September date does not provide adequate time to fill the Club Nava Apartment units by the proposed Fall 2004 completion date. The work on applications must include working with the Orange County PHA to resolve the issues of the many people with disabilities who have either been unable to complete an application or have been dropped from the waiting list, often without the benefit of a reasonable accommodation. Club Nova intends to advocate for members' reinstatement and will provide PHA all necessary documentation that exists in a timely manner. One particular issue that has caused Club Nava members to lose positions or place on the waiting list has been that of group homes. We ask that the Orange County PHA consider group homes as anon-permanent housing situation or as substandard housing (due to the ability or goal of residents to live in less restrictive housing/Olmstead Act.). Living in a group home should not be an impediment for disabled individuals to maintain their position on the Section 8 waiting list. By remaining on the waiting list, when individuals are ready to live independently, the opportunity will be there for a successful transition. We are encouraged by the response of the Orange County Housing Department, and hope to continue to develop a cordial working relationship. We hope that our response and actions will encourage them as well. Wadleigh Harrison thanked the County Commissioners for their responsiveness to the need. She also thanked Tara Fikes for being so open and flexible. There is one concern about the original report on March 4`", on page 3 under Current Program Characteristics, it says, "most non-elderly heads of households are working families." On the statistics, there are only 90 working families. This is a considerable discrepancy. She said that there are currently 623 households that have vouchers and only 90 are working families. Another discrepancy is where it says, "mast families lease two bedroom units." She said that, according to the numbers she has received, 224 units are two bedroom units, but there are 623 households. She would like for what is sent to HUD to be accurate. She cited several other statistics that did not add up to 623. Chair Jacobs asked for Tara Fikes to comment on the differences in the numbers. Tara Fikes said that the figures in tonight's abstract were in direct response to questions that were asked by Ms. Harrison for these specific statistics. They did not add up all of the 623. Chair Jacobs asked why she picked a September date and Tara Fikes said that they are going to be switching computer software applications during the summer, and they want to have time to provide notice to the public about the waiting list being reopened. Commissioner Brown asked about the issue of notification that was not received to reapply to the program. Tara Fikes said that they had an inaccurate address and it was returned and the other was not returned.