OC veterans tell their US House rep they can barely afford housing

A veterans forum Friday organized by Orange County U.S. Rep. Dave Min, a Democrat, quickly turned into a gripe session about the sky-high cost of living.

At the forum, held at Irvine Valley College, several dozen veterans who served in the U.S. Armed Forces spoke of difficulties getting SNAP benefits, delays in receiving their monthly educational aid and the near impossibility of finding affordable housing in one of the most expensive markets in the country.

The event was organized by Min, who represents the 47th Congressional district, including Irvine, Newport Beach and Costa Mesa, to gather veteran feedback on the government shutdown and other issues. Min took questions for more than an hour from student veterans and college staff, many of them veterans as well. Min wondered aloud whether some of the concerns stemmed from cuts to federal funding and personnel under President Donald Trump, compounded by the shutdown.

One veteran, Roberto Gonzalez, thanked Min for foregoing his salary during the government shutdown. “I wish it ended,” Min said of the shutdown, noting that the House of Representatives has been out of session for more than seven weeks.

Min spoke gingerly about who’s to blame for the shutdown, a reflection of the deeply partisan tension over the issue. Min’s district is nearly evenly split between Republicans and Democrats. But he appeared to criticize Republicans, without actually mentioning the party, for not trying to negotiate an end to the stalemate.

“I have not been asked for my vote, not once,” he said.

When one student asked how Min could help them get job training while in school, Min said his office has an internship program — but they’re currently not accepting applications because of the shutdown.

Min said Democrats would continue “holding the line,” in hopes of forcing Republicans to negotiate the extension of health care subsidies that some 22 million Americans currently receive under the Affordable Care Act. The subsidies are set to expire at the end of this year, and if they do, health care premiums for enrollees would increase by an average of 114%, or an estimated $1,016 a year, according to the nonprofit Kaiser Family Foundation.

Food pantry needs up due to lack of SNAP benefits

Briana Bell, who coordinates Irvine Valley College’s basic needs program, told LAist at the event that she’s seen a sharp increase in both students and community members at the college’s food pantry as the federal government continues to withhold SNAP benefits during the shutdown.

Bell said she doesn’t turn community members away, even though students are the pantry’s priority, but gives them a list of other food pantries in Orange County. She gives the list to students, too, with a word of advice: “You can go to more than one.”

Need food assistance? LAist has a guide on where to go when CalFresh and WIC benefits are delayed.

Students struggle to afford to live in Irvine

The high cost of housing in Orange County was among the biggest concerns expressed by veterans at the forum. One veteran, who asked that we not use his name because of his housing challenges, said he struggled to afford housing after completing his service in the U.S. Air Force, sometimes sleeping in his car. He said when he couldn’t afford the cost of living in O.C., he briefly moved to Arizona, where he took remote classes, in order to afford to stay enrolled at Irvine Valley College.

Min sympathized with many of the veterans’ concerns.

“This economy sucks,” he said. “It’s really, really tough to be a young person in Orange County these days because everything is so expensive.”

The median sales price for a home in the county is $1.15 million, according to Zillow, and significantly higher in Irvine at $1.55 million. Five years ago, the county’s median home sales price was around $735,000.

Irvine Valley College plans to build an on-campus housing facility, with space for 320 students, to help alleviate the pressure. It’s expected to be completed in Fall 2031.