The Economic (In)Justice in Orange County Data Summary shows many indicators of economic strength and growth in Orange County, while others reflect deep and widening disparities that threaten the region’s future prosperity. Particularly, economic indicators of racial income inequality, rising housing insecurity, and an aging population without sufficient care infrastructure are creating urgent pressures that cannot be ignored. If left unaddressed, these inequities will not only hinder economic progress but will also widen social gaps and further isolate and erode vulnerable communities.
This action brief calls on all community leaders to embrace cross-sector commitments in addressing key economic challenges. Specifically, the brief presents potential examples of immediate, bold actions philanthropy, policymakers, and community organizations can take to advance economic justice and build an inclusive, resilient economy where every Orange County resident can thrive.
Establish a flexible, multi-year fund fueled by coordinated investments from public, private, and philanthropic sectors. These investments should prioritize building the capacity of community-based organizations (CBOs) and fostering community-driven solutions. The focus should be placed on innovative approaches, including social enterprises and cooperative models.
(A.) Align Funding Opportunities for Greater Community Impact: Develop a coordinated funding strategy across public and private entities to streamline funding opportunities, reduce duplication, and maximize community impact. This includes aligning grant cycles where possible, simplifying application processes, and promoting collaboration among funders.
Stakeholders engaged in promoting economic justice should also encourage the development of a multi-issue coalition that brings together cross-sector stakeholders (e.g., government agencies, philanthropy, community organizations, private sector), racial and ethnic groups, age, and lived experiences.
Such a coalition could address the root causes of economic and social injustice through a comprehensive agenda that uses a systems change approach to push forward cross-sectoral solutions.
Economic justice is complex; creating a centralized information hub that serves as a comprehensive resource for the economic and social justice landscape in Orange County would promote visibility, connectivity, and collaboration among stakeholders.
Why this matters: In 2022, Orange County’s economy would have been $97.4 billion stronger if racial income gaps were eliminated.1 Ensuring long-term economic prosperity in Orange County will require closing persistent racial income gaps.
Create opportunities for multi-year, flexible funding focused on capacity-building.
Invest in policies and strategies that bring quality jobs and opportunities, especially to Red Zones.
Why this matters: In 2022, Orange County ranked as the 17th most rent burdened place among 150 largest U.S. regions.2 When housing costs become unaffordable, not only are residents more likely to experience eviction or homelessness, but are also unable to afford basic needs such as adequate, healthy food and healthcare, deepening economic inequities.
Bolster the Homeless Prevention and Stabilization Pilot (HPSP) program.
Adopt the Kennedy Commission’s proposals, which includes calling on the state to provide a $1 billion subsidy to preserve affordable housing communities in Orange County.
Form mutual aid groups and networks to form deep relationships and advocacy capacity building with unhoused people while providing material support.
Why this matters: More than 1 in 4 people in Orange County will be considered older adults (age 60 and older) by 2040.9 As the county ages, adequate care infrastructure will be critical to sustaining economic growth and resilience.
Convene philanthropic organizations and community partners to determine funding and programmatic pathways to develop care infrastructure and fill resource gaps.
Replace outdated federal poverty measures with the Elder Index to better allocate state and local resources to older adults in Orange County.
Conduct population-specific needs assessment of older adults in Orange County, particularly in hard-to-reach communities such as immigrant, non-English speaking, or disabled communities.
The path toward economic justice in Orange County demands swift and collective action; the above are only a few examples of strategic investment and focus on some of the most critical challenges facing the region. The data are clear: without targeted investments in racial equity, affordable housing, and care infrastructure, existing inequalities will grow deeper and more entrenched. But with decisive leadership, collaboration, and long-term commitment, we can create a future where economic opportunity is not determined by race, income, or zip code. Orange County’s strength lies in its diversity and resilience — now is the time to invest in that future.
Provide flexible funding to innovative and targeted solutions; encourage cross-sector collaboration and radical partnership.
Invest in policies and strategies that bring quality jobs and opportunities, especially to Red Zones communities.
Facilitate infrastructure upgrades (e.g., transit, broadband) in Red Zones communities.
Offer tax credits and incentives to businesses operating in Red Zones, prioritizing industries that align with local workforce skills based on current racial and economic data on Red Zones and with input from communities living in these areas.
Capture data and elevate stories of informal economies (e.g., construction, landscaping, street vending, and caregiving) in Orange County to enhance economic justice strategies and contribute to the county’s economic narrative.
Advocate for the protections of informal workers—often low-income, immigrant and/or people of color—from wage theft and unsafe conditions, and are commonly excluded from unemployment, healthcare, and retirement savings benefits.
Bolster the Homeless Prevention and Stabilization Pilot (HPSP) program.3 The program provides households at risk of experiencing homelessness with housing financial assistance (i.e., rental arrears and utility bill payments), recurring direct financial payments for up to a year, and case management services to navigate and access public assistance and social safety net programs.4
Provide unrestricted funds for mutual aid groups that have on the ground relationships with unhoused people.
Adopt the Kennedy Commission’s proposal, which includes calling on the state to provide a $1 billion subsidy to preserve affordable housing communities in Orange County. 5 Prioritize funding for older adults or residents facing housing insecurity in Red Zones.
Expand rent stabilization policies across the county, minimizing patch work efforts with cities like Santa Ana and Fullerton providing tenant protections while others like Irvine and Huntington Beach offering none.
Strengthen tenants’ unions and advocating for increased renters’ protections to prevent homelessness, supporting fair eviction practices, and creating stronger coalitions to represent renter voices.
Push for broader application of the California Tenant Protection Act of 2019 (AB 1482), while encouraging local governments to adopt ordinances that cap excessive rent increases, especially in high-demand cities lacking current regulations.6
Form or expand mutual aid groups and networks to foster deep relationships and advocacy capacity building with unhoused people while providing material support such as food, water, clothing, bedding, and connections to wraparound services. Examples include Los Angeles has models of this such as Koreatown for All and Los Angeles Community Action Network.7-8
Incentivize tracking of older adult- and aging-specific metrics like the Elder Index (e.g. CalFresh or food stamp enrollment, housing insecurity, transportation needs) using a publicly available data dashboard.
Replace outdated federal poverty measures with the Elder Index (i.e., a measure of how much income older adults need to meet their basic needs) to better allocate state and local resources to older adults in Orange County.10-11
Streamline governmental bureaucracy to bolster cross-sectoral collaborations with philanthropic and community advocates.
Adopt similar models to enhance support and inclusivity for these communities. These include: The Kelsey in California; The Kelsey Ayer Station in San José; The Kelsey Civic Center in San Francisco; and The East Point Naturally Occurring Retirement Community (NORC) in Georgia.12-13