HomeMy WebLinkAbout10-19-2022_Open Session_General Comment_Aparicio, Jessica_re 340 w 4th St_RedactedFrom:Jessica Aparicio
To:Public Comments
Date:Wednesday, October 19, 2022 3:24:11 PM
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October 19th, 2022
To :
First Ward: Theodore Sanchez
Second Ward: Sandra Ibarra
Third Ward: Juan Figueroa
Fourth Ward: Fred Shorett
Fifth Ward: Ben Reynoso
Sixth Ward: Kimberly Calvin
Seventh Ward: Damon L. Alexander
Dear Mayor and San Bernardino City Council,
My name is Jessica Aparicio and I am a San Bernardino resident and work for a non-profit
who serves the Inland Empire communities in need. I am submitting public comments via e-
mail regarding the situation at 340 West 4th Street. Working families in our city are in need of
houses that they can afford. Please do not displace families from 340 W. 4th Street until they
have a place to go here in the City of San Bernardino.
These unsafe conditions that have developed are the result of the city not providing space for
affordable places for the people who work at the Chevron, Kols, Amazon and other
surrounding businesses. The families who remain do not qualify for existing safety net
resources. They are facing homelessness after a two week hotel voucher expires.
The city must respond to this situation humanely. We need rapid housing solutions, temporary
shelters, permanent housing that is available at an affordable price for people working in the
community. We need these systems in place to stop the displacement of San Bernardino
residents and so we are prepared when this happens again.
There are some solutions:
Make the Landlord pay for hotel stays for 10 weeks for all of the families that remain until
permanent housing is found, built, or temporary shelter is identified. Number 9 of Judge
Sachs’ court order requires the landlord to pay “relocation benefits to displaced tenants.” So
far no one has received any payment for relocation. The community needs more time to
respond and as unsafe as the place is, it is safer than homelessness. Since the families have
already paid rent, please give them until the end of the month at least. For families that have
already left and received the vouchers but still need help, please extend their vouchers 6-10
weeks to give the community more time to identify units, permanent solutions, and temporary
solutions.
The City can use ARPA funds to relocate families, provide temporary shelter, and build
shelters.
You can use the city’s TV station to invite Landlords in the city to learn how they can help
offer affordable options and rent empty rooms, ADUs, etc.
Create an affordable housing innovation committee to develop short term action plans to deal
with this issue from all sides
Ensure that no San Bernardino child is homeless or can become so - there are enough services
in our community.
Let’s use this moment to think long term for temporary shelter and permanently affordable
housing in San Bernardino.
Respectfully,
--
Jessica Aparicio, MA | Director of Engagement & Social Impact
(pronouns: she, her, hers)
SBX Youth & Family Services
Sigma Beta Xi, Inc.
Ideas for temporary and permanent housing solutions.
Temporary
https://www.sprung.com/structures/municipal-buildings/homeless-shelters/
https://www.sprung.com/
https://housinginnovation.co/rapidshelter/
https://housinginnovation.co/rapidshelter/connect-shelter/
Permanent
https://lifeark.net/homeless-housing