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Salas, Diana From: Ruben Barreto (SABHC) <ruben.barreto@sa-bhc.org> Sent: Tuesday, May 05, 2020 5:14 PM To: eComment Subject: RE: Municipal Executive Order No. 2-2020 Attachments: SABHC Support Letter for Rent Freeze.docx.pdf May 5, 2020 Mayor Pulido and City Councilmembers City of Santa Ana 20 Civic Center Plaza P.O. Bo 1988, M31 Santa Ana, CA 92701 RE: Municipal Executive Order No. 2-2020 Santa Ana Building Healthy Communities (SABHC) is committed to addressing health inequities and improving opportunities for a healthy, thriving Santa Ana. SABHC understands that health is directly shaped by the circumstances in which people are born, raised, live, and work. Improving these circumstances is a collective responsibility and one that must be led by those directly affected. We want to acknowledge and extend our gratitude and appreciation for your response on implementing local housing protections for residents in Santa Ana. Your actions have included establishing an eviction moratorium for those financially impacted by COVID-19 and enacting a rent freeze on rent increases until May 31st or until Governor Newsome's emergency order is lifted. In an effort to directly support Santa Ana residents with financial assistance SABHC, Resilience OC and Cooperacion Santa Ana collectively launched the InTakesh Relief Fund program. This fund provides much needed economic aid to residents especially those most marginalized and impacted by the novel Corona Virus. In the first weel<from the launch of the program, we received over 400 applications requesting financial support. More than 90% of applicants were in need of rental assistance in addition to other emergency needs they are experiencing . With every application there was a story of struggle, hardship and economic impact especially on undocumented residents who don't qualify to receive the $1,200 stimulus check, can't apply for unemployment or other public benefits out fear of repercussion from the federal government and fear of deportation. As we get ready to start the second phase of applications there is already a waitlist of 350 families. We must do better to ensure Santa Ana residents are protected from experiencing financial insecurity, displacement, and homelessness. Therefore, we urge that you maintain and extend the enacted emergency rent freeze. This will mitigate the detrimental housing consequences this pandemic has had and will continue to have for Santa Ana residents. Sincerely, Santa Ana Building Healthy Communities (SABHC) Ruben A Barreto Communications Director Santa Ana Building Healthy Communities 1505 E 17t^ St, Suite 117 Santa Ana, CA 92705 iVl