HomeMy WebLinkAbout10-19-2022_Open Session_General Comment_Ayala, Elizabeth_re 340 w 4th St_any links sanitizedFrom:Elizabeth Ayala
To:Public Comments
Subject:Help the families at 340 West 4th Street
Date:Wednesday, October 19, 2022 11:08:07 AM
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Dear Mayor and San Bernardino City Council,
My name is Elizabeth Ayala and I volunteer with various organizations like Inland Equity
Partnership and CHICCCAA in San Bernardino.
I am submitting public comments regarding the situation at 340 West 4th Street. Please do
everything you can to not displace families from 340 W. 4th Street until they have a place to
go here in the City of San Bernardino.
The city is 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,
Elizabeth Ayala
community volunteer & longtime IE resident