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10 <br /> AP-10 Consultation <br /> Introduction <br /> Consultation with community stakeholders was a critical component in developing the 2025-2029 <br /> Consolidated Plan. Consultation helped the Orange County HOME Consortium identify and prioritize <br /> community needs, develop strategies, and coordinate subsequent action plans.This process also <br /> facilitated information sharing regarding community resources and promoted coordination within the <br /> Consortium and its member jurisdictions. <br /> During development of the Consolidated Plan in late 2024 and early 2025,the Consortium consulted <br /> with social services agencies, service providers, community-based organizations, housing providers, local <br /> government agencies and boards, neighborhoods leaders, and elected officials. <br /> Community Input and Feedback <br /> Orange County held five community engagement and input sessions across the County at community <br /> centers throughout February. Staff engaged over 50 residents through the public input process and <br /> guided conversations around HOME eligible uses, County needs, and resident issues. Additionally,the <br /> County distributed a resident survey to understand the needs and funding priorities of community <br /> members. 133 survey responses were received and 55 people attended in-person community feedback <br /> sessions. <br /> Engagement Session Feedback <br /> The community engagement sessions highlighted critical housing challenges in Orange County, <br /> particularly for low-income homeowners and renters.Across all meetings, concerns revolved around <br /> housing affordability, home repairs, displacement, infrastructure, and access to program funding. Below <br /> is a summary of key themes and takeaways, contextualized within the broader housing landscape. <br /> • Housing Preservation <br /> o Home repair programs are essential to prevent displacement and maintain affordable <br /> homeownership. <br /> o Targeted funding for repairs, particularly for low-income and elderly homeowners, <br /> should be prioritized. <br /> o Simplifying application processes and providing technical assistance can improve <br /> program accessibility. <br /> o Contractors in low-income neighborhoods should be included in bids for repair work. <br /> o Landlord engagement is needed to ensure rental properties are maintained, as renters <br /> lack access to home repair funding. <br /> • Affordability <br /> o Rising rents and lack of affordability are displacing long-term residents and low-income <br /> renters. <br /> o The current definition of"affordable" (80%AMI) may be too high—suggestions to <br /> redefine affordability for households at 60%or even 30%AMI. <br /> Annual Action Plan 8 <br /> FY 2025-2026 <br />