Laguna Niguel may join the Orange County Housing Finance Trust

Under Assembly Bill 448, the Orange County Housing Finance Trust was developed to increase funding available to a portion of housing solutions for homelessness in Orange County, with an emphasis in funding for supportive housing. It’s housing for persons that may require additional on-site or local services to remain in housing such as social services, health care and counseling.

Tonight, the Laguna Niguel City Council will consider joining the Orange County Housing Finance Trust Joint Powers Authority. City Manager Kristine Ridge says under the Authority agreement, the city wouldn’t initially be committing any funding, but the city would be able to join the Authority. And that means, if a developer in Laguna Niguel expresses an interest in building supportive housing, and is in need of gap funding, the city could go to the Trust to seek that funding. Ridge says the Housing Trust is envisioned to provide a stronger voice for Orange County to secure state and federal dollars.

She says every city in Orange County is being asked to join and so far, the ones who’ve agreed are Buena Park, Fullerton and Orange.

Tonight’s City Council meeting begins at seven.