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June G, 2017 RE: Support for City of Santa Inclusion in Vera Institute of Justice SAFE Cities Network and Universal Legal Representation for Detained Immigrants Dcor Mayor Pulido and Santa Ana City Council Members. The LGST Center OC is pleased to submit this letter supporting the City of Santa Ana's proposal for one-time matobing funds and inclusion in the Vera Institute of Justice's SAFE Cities Network, a program designed to encourage localities to Rood universal legal representation for detained immigrants facing deportation. The LOST Center OC has been serving the Orange County lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer/questioning community for almost fifty years. Established in 1971 and incorporated in 1975, the LOST Center OC remains the only comprehensive health and social services organization specifically targeting Orange County's LGSTQ community and provides services to more than 11,000 individuals annually across a broad spectrum of culture, edudeity, age, and economic backgrounds. Out robust programs and services are conducted within the context of unconditional acceptance of sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, and cultural diversity. The LOST Center OC works closely with the local community to advocate for immigrant rights and provides services including outreach and education targeting the LGSTQ immigrant community. Our organization hosts and participates in numerous know -your -rights presentations, citizenship fairs, education and outreach events, and workshops preparing affirmativo applications for immigration relieff. We are an organization that routinely work, with immigrant communities and we can attest to the harm, caused by deportation and detention, particularly for LOST immigrants. Out organization is regularly contacted by residents of Santa Ana who have great concern of being detained or deported, and/or whose family and friends have been detained or deported, We have provided advocacy and support wherever possible but do not have the resources and capacity to serve every single low-income individual who contacts us for assistance. In particular, we have been able to provide supportive services for an often hidden and fearful population. At this time there is a critical need in Orange County for an organization that provides legal representation to detained immigrants who cannot afford attorneys. The LGST Center OC will continue to provide support for Orange County's underserved and hard -to reach immigrant residents through our expected DOJ Recognition & Accreditation in the fall of 2017. With increased resources, the LGDT Center OC will work with the community to support the creation of an OC Justice Fund to provide this much needed representation. Should you have any questions, please feet free to contact Luis Gomez, Immigration Resources Specialist at 714-953-5428. Thank you for your consideration. Yours trul Laura Kanter, M.S.W. Director of Policy, Advocacy and Youth Services The LOST Center OC 20A-43