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Affordable-housing advocates press county for urgent home repairs, relief after revaluation
Summary
Speakers at the May 13 public hearing urged Orange County commissioners to boost urgent home-repair funding, protect long-time homeowners from displacement after a county revaluation, and preserve shelter and other core safety-net services.
Multiple speakers at the May 13 public hearing urged Orange County to prioritize home repairs, property-tax relief and shelter services amid concerns about displacement following the county property revaluation.
Elizabeth Young, who volunteers at Rogers Road Community Center and Justice United, said the urgent home-repair waiting list runs about two years with roughly 200 households and an estimated $2,000,000 required to clear it. "Home repair funds are both a moral and practical priority," she said, and voiced support for the manager's recommendation to use $62,000 of the Master Aging Plan balance for an urgent repair program for seniors.
Speakers described the revaluation as disproportionately affecting historically Black neighborhoods and raising the risk of displacement. Elizabeth Young and Christina Smith, speaking on behalf of the Orange County Affordable Housing Coalition, said assessment increases have in some areas outpaced residents' ability to pay and that modest homes in historically Black neighborhoods have seen steep valuation increases relative to wealthier neighborhoods. Smith urged continued funding for property-tax assistance for homeowners, home repair, and shelter and emergency housing services.
Jackie Jenks, president of the Inter-Faith Council for Social Service and a partner in the Orange County Affordable Housing Coalition, described county-supported programs that rely on local funding: the county-supported year-round shelter, permanent supportive housing for chronically homeless residents, hot meals and free groceries. Jenks said federal funding cuts have already affected food programs and warned that further cuts would exacerbate housing instability.
Speakers supported the manager's specific recommendations for home repair and other targeted investments but said the scale of need is larger than the recommended funding and urged the board to prioritize housing and safety-net services in final budget decisions.
