FIGHTING FOR JUST CAUSE EVICTIONS, RENT CONTROL, & RENT STABILIZATION | LUCHANDO POR DESALOJOS CON CAUSA JUSTA, ESTABILIZACIÓN DE RENTA, y CONTROL DE RENTA 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 FIGHTING FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING: “While the housing market has improved since the worst days of the housing meltdown and recession, millions of Americans remain underwater with their mortgages and millions more can’t get a loan to buy a house. On the rental side, more than 7 million households lack access to adequate affordable housing, with many facing a daily choice between housing, food, and healthcare. Meanwhile, many working families, veterans, the mentally ill and the poor are living in their cars, in homeless shelters, or simply out on the street. That is unacceptable. It is no secret that millions of families are struggling economically. Meanwhile, decent and affordable rental apartments are hard to come by, and millions of households are spending 50 percent or more of their income on housing. According to the National Low Income Housing Coalition, 7.1 million American households cannot find affordable housing. That is unacceptable.” OUR REVOLUTION SANTA ANA supports the efforts by community groups and stakeholders to pass an ordinance that will afford tenants the protections that they need. Santa Ana has a large renter population with 56% of the city’s total households serving as rental homes (2017 American Community Survey). 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 rent increases and retaliation in the form of unjust evictions. The City’s Housing Element illustrates the need for such ordinance for renters, especially our low income residents. ‘Approximately 54 percent of households earn lower incomes... Renters typically have the highest percentage of very low income households...’ (pg A-10) These low income 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) It is important to protect our immigrants, workers, and youth from the traumatic effects that displacement has on our communities. 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. Our Revolution Santa Ana and our membership strongly encourages the City of Santa Ana to establish a workgroup that includes community stakeholders such as: affected residents, non-profits organizations, and community groups that will adopt a Tenant Protections Ordinance to the city charter. Sincerely, Ivan Enriquez
