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25 <br /> • The demand created by continued population growth, including growth from the University, <br /> creates a housing shortage. <br /> • A tight rental housing market and escalating rental rates in the urban areas of the County <br /> increases costs for all income levels. <br /> • There is a lack of housing choice for people aging in place. <br /> Furthermore, the COVID-19 pandemic increased housing instability for many County residents due to <br /> business closures and job losses, creating the need for significant scale-up in the County's provision of <br /> emergency rent and utility assistance (through the Emergency Housing Assistance program), housing <br /> resource navigation and referrals (through the Housing Helpline), and non-congregate shelter for people <br /> experiencing homelessness. <br /> Orange County's population is growing, with population growth concentrated mainly in the higher <br /> income household category.This growth has raised the value of housing, both owner-and renter- <br /> occupied, and created a shortage of decent, safe and affordable housing for very low>30%, low>50%, <br /> and moderate >80% income persons. Orange County's highest priority is to address issues of affordable <br /> housing in the County. During this CAPER period,the County used its limited financial resources to <br /> address affordable housing issues and other needs addressed in this plan by funding the projects that <br /> would create more housing opportunities for County residents. <br /> In PY 2023,the Orange County HOME Consortium funded the following activities to increase affordable <br /> housing opportunities: <br /> • HOME-23-01—CASA—Rental Construction <br /> • HOME-23-02—Pee Wee Homes—Rental Construction <br /> Actions taken to reduce lead-based paint hazards. 91.220(k); 91.320(j) <br /> In Orange County, evaluations (risk assessments) of lead-based paint in housing units were conducted <br /> on a case-by-case basis and lead abatement was prescribed as needed for dwellings assisted with <br /> rehabilitation funds. In addition, all assisted housing tenants were informed of the hazards of lead-based <br /> paint. The Orange County Health Department provided ongoing consultation to local housing staff. <br /> During this CAPER period, no units were abated for lead based paint in the County using HOME funds. <br /> Actions taken to reduce the number of poverty-level families. 91.220(k); 91.320(j) <br /> The latest HUD CHAS data (2014-2019) indicates that 30%of Orange County households (both renters <br /> and home owners) are cost burdened, meaning they spend more than 30%of their income on housing. <br /> Of all renters and homeowners in Orange County, about 15%are severely cost burdened, spending <br /> more than half of their income on housing. Cost burden is most prevalent among extremely low-income <br /> households earning 30%or below the area median income.Three-quarters (75%) of all very low income <br /> households are cost burdened by their housing, with 69%of these very low-income households <br /> 24 <br />