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February 6, 2018 Mayor Miguel Pulido and Councilmembers City of Santa Ana 20 Civic Center Plaza P.O. Box 1988, M31 Santa Ana CA, 92701 RE: Work Study Session on Rent Control/Stabilization - Support Tenant Protections Ordinance Dear Mayor Pulido and Councllmembers, 450 West Fourth Street Latino Health Access Is a nonprofit organization that has been working with Santa Ana residents Suite 130 for the past 24 years toward a healthier community. We take a holistic approach to health and Santa Ana, CA 92701 know that there are a number of environmental factors that impact a community's health, Ph: 714-542-7792 Including having access to stable, affordable, and dignified housing, Latino Health Access supports Fax: 714-542-4853 the efforts by the community to pass an ordinance that will afford tenants much needed latinohealthaccess.org protections and housing security. Santa Ana has a large renter population; with 56% of the city's total households serving as rented units (2017 -American Comm unity.Survey)• Tenants have the right to live in dignified housing; we need a Tenant Protections Ordinance immediately as Santa Ana tenants live In fear of recurring rent increases and retaliation in the form of unjust evictions. Over the last 10 years, you have made a commitment to work with us towards public policy that will make Santa Ana a healthier and more equitable community. Santa Ana's housing unaffordability crisis is a public health crisis. The real estate market is out of control and we must take action to protect our neighbors from becoming homeless or being displaced from Santa Ana. Studies show that housing burden has severe impacts on a person's health. There are significant associations between high housing costs and hunger, inadequate childhood nutrition and poor childhood growth. The city's Housing Element illustrates the need for public policy that protects renters, especially low income residents. 'Approximately 54 percent of households earn lower Incomes... These low income households have very high rates of rent burden... Housing overpayment is most severe among extremely low and low income households and special needs groups.' (pg. A-20) This housing affordability crisis is dramatically increasing the number of people who are homeless In 2019/16, 12.5% of students in the Santa Ana Unified School District lived in "insecure housing" meaning they lived in motels, shelters, parks and doubled- or tripled -up in a home. (OC Conditions of Children Report) Policies such as Just Cause Evictions have been successfully implemented in jurisdictions throughout California while protecting the rights of tenants and property owners. The City needs to deepen its commitment to working alongside the community in the development process, to ensure that the community's needs are being met and that tenants are being protected. Policies that include Just Cause Evictions, Rent Control and Rent Stabilization represent a key opportunity to do this. Santa Ana has the opportunity to lead the way and set a high standard for tenant protections in Orange County. Latino Health Access strongly urges the City of Santa Ana to establish a workgroup that includes community stakeholders such as affected residents, non- profit organizations, and community groups that will create a Tenant'Protections Ordinance. Sincerely, 4. VV/ Nancy Mejla, MSW, MPH Director of Community Engagement and Advocacy Programs P: 714-542-7792 ext 1021 nmeiia2latinohealthaccess ore PREVENTION EDUCATION ACTION