23 (47)Jennifer L. Hall
From: Nicholas J. Taylor
Sent: Tuesday, October 26, 2021 7:53 AM
To: Public Comment
Subject: FW: [EXTERNAL] Letter of Support on Appeal
Attachments: Letter of Support on Appeal.docx
From:
Sent: Monday, October 25, 202111:54 PM
To: Nicholas J. Taylor <NJTaylor@anaheim.net>
Cc: jkreitner@grandmashouseofhope.org
Subject: [EXTERNAL] Letter of Support on Appeal
Warning: This email originated from outside the City of Anaheim. Do not click links or open
attachments unless you recognize the sender and are expecting the message.
To the Anaheim City Council,
I am writing in support of Grandma's House of Hope and the proposed Conditional Use Permit (DEV2021-06016) located
at 626 N. West St., Anaheim, CA 92801. I have attached my "Letter of Support on Appeal" to this email.
Thank you!
Kangdi Cheng
UC Irvine, School of Law
Letter of Support
Date October 25, 2021
Name Kangdi Cheng
Address , Irvine, CA, 92617
To the Anaheim City Council,
I am writing this letter in support of Grandma's House of Hope and the proposed Conditional Use Permit
(DEV2021-06016) located at 626 N. West St., Anaheim, CA 92801. 1 have been informed that the
Planning Department Staff Report recommended approval for the proposed project. I believe that this
project would help address the homelessness crisis facing Anaheim, and that Grandma's House of Hope
has and will operate this project in a reputable and considerate manner.
I am an international student at UC Irvine, but I am equally concerned as my Anaheim local peers for the
plight of those living on the streets, many with mental health challenges that have never been
diagnosed. One of the very reasons I came to the US, especially to California, for my study is that I
admire how this land tries to respect and protect the rights of the few, the weak, the discriminated, the
disadvantaged and marginalized individuals, even at times when it might come in conflict with some of
the majority's best interests.
It is within this community's power and long-term interest to act to assist those in need. By supporting
Grandma's House of Hope, the community could help preserve the dignity of all people and their right
to be fairly housed without discrimination. The world, including this community, have witnessed the
2008 financial crisis and the 2020 COVID-19's impacts on everyone. A middle-class family could easily
become broke in such an unexpected crisis and joined the homeless on the streets. Helping them to
have a transitional place is building a safety net for future crises for the community. More importantly, it
is building trust and care among all people of the community.
The housing services that Grandma's House of Hope has provided for the last 17 years has earned them
an excellent reputation with their peers and partners. Their hard work has resulted in 4 contracts with
the Orange County Healthcare Agency (3 of these to provide housing and services to those with a
mental health diagnosis), 2 with CALOES in Sacramento for Victims of Crime and CESH funding to
provide housing and services for victims of domestic violence. Their success in moving their participants
to Permanent Housing within 12 months is 65%, which is among the highest in the county.
The homeless population here is diverse, and Grandma's House of Hope serves all individuals, including
those with mental illness, who are often the most vulnerable. There is a lot of stigma and
misinformation surrounding mental illness, and it concerns me that this decision was based on
discriminatory comments from protesters at the hearing. I would be very discouraged to know that
discrimination had any place in the decision-making process of the Anaheim City Council.
Therefore, I strongly ask that you support this project and be instrumental in helping the community,
Signature Kangdi Cheng