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“To provide housing security with a focus on support for older adults to age in place.”
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Priority Scope
The long-term intent of this initiative is to address housing and financial instability challenges for OC older adults. The County aims to do this by supporting housing resources which include:
Affordable Housing
Housing when housing cost is no more than 30% of an individual’s income.
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Supportive Housing
Combines housing with essential support services to help individuals achieve stability and improve overall well-being.
Accessible Housing
Housing that is designed and constructed to be readily accessible and usable.
Background & Supporting Data
Identified Need for Older Adult Accessible Housing
The American Association of Retired People (AARP), scored OC above average in their index for United States overall rating of livability for older adults regardless of factors of income, ability level and background of senior residents. Although OC is rated high overall as an ideal place to live, this index includes a housing score that had some lower ratings. OC scored higher on ratings for housing on zero-step entrances and availability of multi-family homes and scored lower for housing costs, housing cost burden and availability of subsidized housing. These findings are consistent with the OC Older Adult Community Survey, where OC also scored high as an ideal place to retire, but not all city residents scored their city of residence favorably for availability of senior housing (e.g., availability of long-term options, availability of accessible housing, availability of day-time options, etc.) with discrepancies among the city ratings.
Identified Need for Housing Affordability
In OC, 72.2% of older adults live within owner-occupied households, more than one in four (27.8%) are renter-occupied according to the US Census 2020: DEC Demographic and Housing Characteristics. In the OC Older Adult Needs Assessment Report, becoming homeless was more of a concern for those who were renting a home or apartment and for older adults who were between the ages of 55 and 69, suggesting the highest concern for housing affordability for this renting group as they get older. According to the California MPA-DD, in 2023, across all HUD programs, OC had lower subsidized housing rates, 40.9 subsidized housing units per 1,000 low-income population, compared to the state’s rate of 48.9 subsidized housing units per 1,000 low-income population, indicating a need to increase affordable housing.
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Housing Funding Strategy
On June 12 2018, the OC BOS accepted the Housing Funding Strategy which identified the need for affordable supportive housing units. The County has already committed more than $100 million for permanent supportive and affordable housing since 2018 through this strategy. Additionally, in 2022, the Housing Funding Strategy Update highlighted older adults as a priority population and the OC Housing Authority Administrative Plan prioritized housing vouchers for older adults.
Community Partners & Key Stakeholders
The County commits to maintaining and expanding its network of partners. Development of this initiative may lead to the identification of vital outside County stakeholders, including cities, private industry partners (e.g., housing developers, etc.), and community partner agencies.
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OC Housing Finance Trust (Trust)
This trust was formed in 2019 as a joint power’s authority between OC cities and the County to fund housing, specifically assisting unhoused and/ or low-income individuals within OC. While the County continues this effort, for the development of actual housing units, only some cities have contributed in the second year for administration. As of fiscal year 2024-2025, the County has been the sole Trust member to contribute funding for the Trust Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA) as reflected in the Trust thus far.
County Strategic Financial Plan
Housing efforts continue to be a priority as identified in the 2024 Strategic Financial Plan which plans for resources in the upcoming years (explained on page 10) toward these efforts. Capital fund development plans will help in this partnership.
Objective Overview: Housing Security
| Objective 1 | Long-Term |
|---|
| Increase access for older adults to affordable, supportive and/or accessible housing. |
| Item Number & Description | Key Stakeholders - Implementors |
|---|---|
| FY 2025-2026 Action Items | |
| 1.1 Evaluate the needs and gaps in housing for older adults using existing inventory of units and State/Federal Housing Plans. (The 2025 Orange County Permanent Housing Inventory is provided on page 28 of the appendix). | County / Community / Private Industry |
| 1.2 Incorporate housing needs based on identified gaps into existing project plan and OC Cares Initiative. Include in the SFP. | County |
| 1.3 Develop a process for tracking progress and success including key performance indicators and supporting metrics. | County |
| FY 2026-2027 & Ongoing Action Items | |
| 1.4 Track, monitor and support funding opportunities to increase availability of accessible, supportive and/or accessible housing including exploration of new housing models (e.g. shared housing, small-scale housing, etc.). | County / Community / Housing Developers |
| 1.5 Provide older adults and those with disabilities assistance in finding a prescreened homecare provider. Assists caregiver access to training. | County |
| FY 2030-2031 Action Items | |
| 1.6 Report recommendations for next steps and sustainability of this initiative. | County |