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20 <br /> affordable housing options, rental assistance programs, and initiatives that promote long-term <br /> housing stability for low-income households. <br /> NA-15 Disproportionately Greater Need: Housing Problems - 91 .405, <br /> 91 .205 (b)(2) <br /> Introduction <br /> This section assesses whether specific racial or ethnic groups in Orange County experience <br /> housing problems at rates significantly higher than the county average.A"disproportionately <br /> greater need" is identified when the rate of severe housing problems for a group exceeds the <br /> countywide figure by more than ten percentage points.This analysis is based on data from the <br /> 2017-2022 Comprehensive Housing Affordability Strategy(CHAS)and examines results across <br /> different income levels. <br /> For households earning 0-30%of the Area Median Income (AMI),those with no or negative income <br /> but no other identified housing issues are excluded to ensure a more accurate representation of <br /> actual housing needs.The analysis considers four housing problems as defined by HUD: (1)a lack <br /> of complete kitchen facilities, (2) a lack of complete plumbing facilities, (3)overcrowding(more <br /> than one person per room), and (4) cost burdens where housing costs exceed 30%of household <br /> income.This structured approach provides a clear understanding of how housing challenges <br /> impact various racial and ethnic groups across income brackets. <br /> Discussion <br /> The data presented above underscores Orange County's most urgent housing challenge:the high <br /> cost of housing and the lack of affordability for extremely low-income and very low-income <br /> households—those earning under 30%and between 30-50%of the Area Median Income(AMI), <br /> respectively. <br /> Extremely low-income households (0-30%AMI) make up 13.71%of all households in the county, <br /> yet they bear a disproportionate housing cost burden.This group accounts for 44%of all cost- <br /> burdened households,with 66%of extremely low-income households paying more than half of <br /> their income toward housing costs, representing nearly 4,957 households.This severe cost burden <br /> leaves many families financially vulnerable,forcing difficult trade-offs between housing,food, <br /> healthcare, and other essential needs, and putting them at risk of housing instability or <br /> homelessness. <br /> NA-20 Disproportionately Greater Need: Severe Housing Problems - <br /> 91 .405, 91 .205 (b)(2) <br /> Introduction <br /> 17 <br />