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<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br />December 4, 2018 <br />Mayor Pulido and Members of the City Council <br />City of Santa Ana <br />20 Civic Center Plaza <br />P.O. Bo 1988, M31 <br />Santa Ana, CA 92701 <br />RE: 85B: Support -Just Cause Evictions Ordinance <br />Latino Health Access is a non-profit organization working to address and alleviate many of <br />the most detrimental public health issues that exist In Santa Ana. We know that the housing <br />crisis that the city is experiencing is affecting the most vulnerable families tremendously; we <br />see the consequences of lack of accessibility and affordability to decent housing every day. <br />Our promotoras are seeing cases related to housing on a daily basis and are trying to provide <br />support and referrals with very few resources available. As an organization, we have <br />acknowledged and understand the need to promote comprehensive solutions to the housing <br />crisis, including policies designed to keep tenants housed and further prevent homelessness. <br />This includes protecting tenants from unjust evictions. From 2011- 2016 there were 2,201 <br />evictions carried out by the Orange County Sheriff's Department. We know that the number <br />of evictions 1s much higher as many evictions go unreported. The City has the ability to <br />implement a Just Cause Evictions Ordinance and provide protections from unjust evictions to <br />its most vulnerable tenants. <br />This ordinance would only permit for tenants to be evicted for the following reasons: <br />1. Failure to Pay Rent <br />2. Breach of Lease <br />3. Nuisance <br />4. Illegal Purpose <br />S. Refusal to Execute New Lease <br />6. Failure to Give Access <br />7, Subtenant in Sole Possession <br />8. Owner Move -in <br />9. Necessary and Substantial Repairs Requiring Temporary Vacancy <br />10. Withdrawal of the Unit Permanently from Rental Market <br />11. Government Order <br />12. Vacating an Unpermitted Rental Unit <br />This ordinance would allow landlords to evict their tenants when there is a just reason. It <br />would protect tenants from unjust evictions such as retaliatory evictions in response to <br />requests for repairs to their unit and Code Enforcement inspections. <br />Tenants who are displaced by landlord actions, such as by evictions, are faced with unfair <br />burdens. Landlords often require that prospective tenants pay the equivalent of three <br />months' rent up front to secure a lease—generally representing the first and last month's <br />rent, and a security deposit. The total accumulated cost imposed on a displaced household <br />generally exceeds $10,000 and can frequently reach $20,000 or greater. Tenants who are <br />seniors, persons with disabilities, or have children Incur even higher costs due to their <br />particular circumstance. <br />PREVENTION EDUCATION ACTION <br />