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PUBLIC1* LAwCENTER PROVIDING ACCESS TO JUSTICE FOR ORANGE COUNTY'S LOW INCOME RESIDENTS February 6, 2018 VIA EMAIL TO e-comments@santa-ana.org Mayor Miguel Pulido and Members of the City Council City of Santa Ana 20 Civic Center Plaza P.O. Box 1988, M31 Santa Ana, CA 92701 RE: Work Study Session/Rent Stabilization—Support Tenant Protections Ordinance Dear Mayor Pulido and Members of the City Council: The Public Law Center is a non-profit pro bono law firm in Orange County that provides access to justice for low-income and vulnerable residents, Our practice includes providing representation to low-income families in housing -related matters, preventing homelessness, and advocating for affordable and inclusionary housing. We support the efforts by community groups and stakeholders to pass an ordinance that will afford tenants the protcctions that they steed. The City of Santa Ana has a large renter population with 56% of the pity's total households serving as rental homes (2017 American Community Survcy), We believe that tenants have the right to live in dignified housing; and we need a Tenant Protections Ordinance immediately as Santa Ana tenants live in fear of recurring rout increases and retaliation in the form, of unjust evictions. Further, the City of Santa Ana's Housing Element illustrates the need for such ordinance for renters, especially our low income residents. As noted at page A-10 of the, City's Housing Element: "Approximately 54 percent of households earn lower incomes.., outers typically have the highest percentage of very low income households,,," These low Wome, households have very high rates of rent burden, as they're paying well over 30 percent of their household income on rent. `The 2011 ACS reports 31,676 households (43 percent) overpaid for housing. Of this total, 57 percent were renters (21,496 households)... Housing overpayment is most severe among extremely low and low income households and special needs groups.' (pg. A -20) - Many of our clients are working families in Santa Ana who are in need of decent and affordable housing. In Santa Ana, there is a significant need to addross and providp housing opportunities for all economic segments of the community, Supporting a Rent Stabilization/Just Cause Eviction Ordinance will support the City of Santa Ana's efforts to meet its Housing Element Strategic Plan Goal No. 5 and Objective No. 3, 601 Civic Center Drive West • Santa Ana, CA 92701-4002 • (714) $41-1010, Fax (714) 541-5157