The Kennedy Commission

What it reported doing in 2024

The Kennedy Commission strives to increase equitable and affordable housing opportunities for Orange County's lowest income families and workers. The Commission's goals are: l) to implement policies and programs in each Orange County jurisdiction to facilitate affordable housing production; 2) to increase financial resources available for the creation of affordable housing; 3) to increase public awareness of the need for and benefits of affordable housing; and 4) to increase public participation in the support of affordable housing production and land-use reform throughout the County. 5) Ensure that public land, local city's land use and housing investments are used to equitably address the need to increase affordable housing for lower income households. The following summarizes the accomplishments of the Commission's staff and volunteers in 2024: I. Created and Implemented Favorable Affordable Housing Policies - Tracked and advocated for state and local housing policies and programs that expand production and funding for affordable housing. - Worked to educate and implement Affordable Housing on Faith Lands (CA SB 4) to ensure that local jurisdictions prioritize the development of affordable housing on religious land and community colleges. -Worked to monitor and implement the CA Surplus Land Act to ensure that local jurisdictions prioritize the development of affordable housing on public land. Key cities owed land: Anaheim Surplus - Stadium Lands, Garden Grove Willowick, County of Orange 17th Street Health Care Agency site and Tustin - Legacy. -Collaborated with community partners to provide comments and recommendations on land use and housing policies to all cities in Orange County in the development of their Housing Elements implementation and affordable housing programs. -Collaborated with community partners, residents and the County of Orange to develop Health and Housing priorities and interventions to address affordable housing and homelessness. - Provided testimony and education on various affordable housing and land use reform policies and homelessness at State Assembly and Senate Committees, Orange County Board of Supervisors, and various city planning commissions and city councils. - Developed best practices and model Affordable Housing policies for use and implementation in Orange County cities. - Worked with key cities to develop and implement affordable housing tools and policies in their jurisdictions. Worked with land use and housing policies to improve health and equity to build a healthy living environment. Organized community support for the inclusion of affordable housing in key OC cities Anaheim, Buena Park, Costa Mesa, Fullerton, Garden Grove, Huntington Beach, Irvine, Lake Forest, Mission Viejo, Newport Beach, Santa Ana, Tustin, Laguna Niguel, Laguna Hill, San Juan Capistrano, Stanton, San Clemente and Laguna Beach.- Worked with County of Orange on affordable housing commitments and addressing the homelessness crisis in Orange County and Mental Health Services Act funding for AH and Permanent Supportive Housing. - Worked on the implementation of Proposition 1, Behavioral Health Services Act, to ensure priorities for investing in and developing affordable housing. - Monitored land use proposals, specific plans and General Plan implementation, in all Orange County jurisdictions and advocated affordable housing priorities. -Partnered with stakeholders to promote affordable housing policies and developments in all Orange County cities. -Participated in local, regional and statewide housing policy groups, boards and committees to increase knowledge and awareness of affordable housing solutions. - Worked on the education and best practices of Housing Elements, affordable housing and homelessness solutions, inclusionary zoning and density bonuses and Surplus Land. II. Increased Financial Resources- Organized community analysis and response to annual State regulatory and finance housing programs (Supporting inv

Financial Efficiency

• Mission deployment rate: 47.6%; rating input score 48
• Program expense ratio: 82.3%; rating input score 82
• Fundraising efficiency: $21.35 raised per $1 spent on fundraising; rating input score 60; 60th percentile among comparable filings

Transparency & Controls

• Consistency checks: 100%; rating input score 100; 63rd percentile among comparable filings
• Pay-setting controls: 2 of 6 controls in place; rating input score 33
  • Compensation committee: Missing
  • Independent consultant: Missing
  • Other Form 990s reviewed: Pass
  • Written employment contract: Missing
  • Compensation survey or study: Missing
  • Board or committee approval: Pass
• Foreign activity oversight: Limited
• Grant itemization coverage: Limited
• Major donor itemization: Yes; rating input score 100
• Related-party transparency: Limited

Accountability

• Independent voting board: 100%; rating input score 100; 63rd percentile among comparable filings
• Governance controls: 6 of 8 controls in place; rating input score 75
  • Conflict-of-interest policy: Pass
  • Whistleblower policy: Pass
  • Document-retention policy: Pass
  • CEO compensation review process: NotApplicable
  • Other executive compensation review process: Fail
  • Form 990 shared with the board: Pass
  • Board meeting minutes documented: Pass
  • Audit committee oversight: Pass
  • Independent financial-statement audit: Fail

Sustainability

• Operating margin: 46.8%; rating input score 91; 91st percentile among comparable filings
• Total-asset coverage ratio: 5.32; rating input score 85; 85th percentile among comparable filings
• Liabilities to assets ratio: 0.02; rating input score 61; 61st percentile among comparable filings
• Officer compensation ratio: 32.3%; rating input score 6; 6th percentile among comparable filings

Growth

• Program expense growth: 12.3% per year; rating input score 100; 69th percentile among comparable filings
• Revenue growth: 13.6% per year; rating input score 100; 76th percentile among comparable filings
• Asset growth: 13.3% per year; rating input score 100; 68th percentile among comparable filings