People for Housing Orange County

Yes In God's Backyard (YIGBY)

YIGBY, known as “Yes in God’s Backyard” poses a significant opportunity to increase the production of affordable housing by building on church and faith lands. SB 4 allows religious institutions and non-profit colleges (exempting the CSU and UC college campuses) to build affordable housing projects on their lands, treating them as “by-right” developments. SB 4 considers these projects “by-right,” meaning they can skip the lengthy CEQA review, but only if they meet the key criteria: 1. Housing units are not located within 1,200 feet of a site that is currently or formerly involved with any sort of industrial use. 2. Housing units are not located within 1,600 feet of a site that is currently or formerly involved with Title V industrial use. 3. Housing units are not located within 3,200 feet of a natural gas or oil refinery. Developments must also be compliant with local zoning ordinances and regulations and approximately 171,000 acres of land in California will be eligible for affordable housing development. As an organization, we believe it is crucial to highlight this unique opportunity to build more affordable housing, and SB 4 is a transformative tool in facilitating the much-needed production of affordable housing in Orange County. In fact, Faith leaders see building housing for the unhoused as a fulfillment of their congregation’s mission. SB 4 provides them with a tool to actively address homelessness and housing insecurity in their communities. We want to facilitate information sharing and to encourage faith leaders and developers to forge partnerships and be a part of the necessary solution to our county’s housing crisis.

Affordable Housing Access Platform (AHAP)

People for Housing OC is spearheading the Affordable Housing Access Platform (AHAP), a countywide tool built on GetHelpOC™ technology from 2-1-1 Orange County. AHAP centralizes information about affordable housing opportunities, enabling residents to easily access details on new units, eligibility requirements, application timelines, and lease-up processes. By connecting data from cities, developers, property managers, and service providers, the platform creates a streamlined, efficient system that ensures housing information is accessible and equitable for all Orange County residents. The initiative emerged from direct engagement with residents during the Equity in OC (EiOC) project, where People for Housing learned firsthand about the challenges of navigating the housing system. AHAP integrates resident feedback, aligns with local and state housing goals, and provides a dignified process for individuals and families to find homes that meet their needs. The platform also empowers cities, service providers, employers, and property managers to make data-informed decisions, coordinate resources, and expand housing opportunities efficiently. Currently piloting in Fullerton and Costa Mesa, AHAP allows residents to create profiles, indicate preferences, and receive notifications about available housing. Over time, the platform will expand countywide, connecting more residents to opportunities, supporting workforce housing, and strengthening collaboration across Orange County’s housing ecosystem. Through AHAP, People for Housing OC is transforming the way affordable housing is accessed, making it simpler, more transparent, and more equitable.

Homes For All

Homes for All is an advocacy training program for community residents and leaders to increase the understanding of housing policies among community stakeholders. Originally funded by the Orange County Health Care Agency under the Equity in OC initiative, Homes for All was piloted to develop a coalition of community members and nonprofit organizations to work together to build community support for the production of affordable housing. By empowering individuals with knowledge, we aim to advocate for and accelerate the production of affordable housing throughout Orange County. We believe grassroots organizing serves as a pipeline for community empowerment and social change at the local level. Our advocacy as an organization is most effective when it is informed by those who are experiencing the housing shortage first-hand. We seek to build the capacity of housing advocates and equip them with knowledge and resources to address immediate and future housing needs. Homes For All serves a number of diverse communities, including those experiencing housing insecurity, those with lived experience in low-income communities, and those who have secure housing and want to see more affordable housing produced for their neighbors in Orange County. The housing crisis affects the entire generational and socioeconomic spectrum; we believe everyone should be part of the solution to end the housing shortage in Orange County. We offer this advocacy training program to neighborhood-serving organizations, community-based organizations, health care providers, social service agencies, faith communities, as well as education and community groups. Our workshops provide a space for participants to share their housing story, connect with others through shared experiences, and rally to support the housing needs of the community.