City staff told the council that Santa Ana has grown its portfolio of permanent supportive housing and is increasing monitoring after elevated calls for police service at several developments, including The Orchard and Casa Kerencia.

Housing staff said the city has approved 11 permanent-supportive housing projects in the last decade that together include 488 units for chronically unhoused people and residents with disabilities. Staff told the council that federal HUD inspection guidance requires sampling 20 percent of units every two years; Santa Ana had inspected more frequently and in 2025 moved to inspect each unit twice a year and to step up monthly coordination with property managers and police for projects with elevated calls for service.

In a presentation, City housing staff reported that, in the period reviewed, The Orchard recorded roughly 330 calls for service and Casa Kerencia roughly 376. Recorded call types included trespass (about 83 calls at The Orchard in the period reviewed) and narcotics-related calls (about 69 at The Orchard in the same span). Staff said the city has issued notices to comply and that management changes and added security at some properties followed staff engagement.

“From our side we are increasing inspections, coordinating monthly with property managers and the police, and issuing notices to comply when warranted,” Housing Director Michael García told the council (timecode 10158–10219). García said staff would continue onsite visits, support providers and explore preventative programming intended to improve safety and sense of community.

Multiple public speakers and some councilmembers said the measures so far have not been sufficient. Community member Gonzalo Cera urged stronger action, telling the council he did not believe the steps to date had reduced illicit activity at The Orchard and Casa Kerencia. “We have 336 calls for service. We need results — more enforcement and more supportive services,” he said (timecode 11114–11152).

The council asked staff to return with reports on progress; councilmembers asked for monthly or quarterly updates and for staff to make concrete, measurable recommendations to reduce calls for service. The housing authority held a related vote during the meeting to approve actions in its agenda and the roll call for that portion of the hearing recorded unanimous approval by authority members present.

The presentation included funding examples: staff cited a roughly $1.2 million loan used to convert a motel into The Orchard in 2017 and a cited $5.2 million allocation for the Wise Place conversion; staff also referenced about $7.9 million in rental assistance tied to these projects. Staff said vouchers for supportive units are project‑based (tied to the unit); if an individual is evicted the voucher remains with the unit rather than following the person.

Why this matters: Permanent supportive housing is intended to stabilize people with chronic homelessness and serious health needs. Councilmembers and speakers said the city must ensure these projects do not become locations of repeated criminal activity and that residents, many of them vulnerable, receive consistent supportive services.

What’s next: Staff will coordinate monthly meetings with property managers and police for problem sites, continue inspections twice a year for units, and return with progress reports; the Housing Authority approved the related items during the hearing.