Item 17 - Ayuda Sin Fronteras Program – Tenant Assistance Update

Home Browse Search

Ayuda Sin Fronteras Program — Tenant Assistance Update October 21, 2025 Page 2 Community Partnerships Collaboration with community organizations was integral to ASF outreach efforts and trust-building. Key referral and support partners included, but were not limited to: • Public Law Center • Santa Ana Unified School District's Family and Community Engagement (FACE) Team • South County Cross Cultural Council • El Centro Cultural de Mexico • Western Youth Services These partnerships have helped ensure that immigrant and mixed-status households can safely access assistance and navigate the application process. ASF Program Status Staff has made significant progress in processing both rental and utility assistance applications, and ASF is expected to fully expend its $100,000 allocation by the end of October 2025. As of October 6, 2025, ASF has approved $89,273.88 in financial assistance—representing approximately 89% of the total $100,000 allocation—with an additional $10,726.12 in pending rental assistance under review. To date, ASF has served 101 households (198 individuals), broken down as follows: • 81 households received utility assistance only • 5 households received rental assistance only • 15 households received both rent and utility support o Average rental assistance payment of$1,851.26 Demand for utility assistance was especially high due to ASF's rapid delivery mechanism and relatively lower documentation thresholds required by landlords. Households who participated in ASF experienced sudden loss of household income due to the detention or deportation of a wage earner, increased childcare or transportation costs, and heightened fear of engaging with employers or landlords beginning in late June 2025. The emergency rental assistance provided through ASF, one month of rent arrears and/or up to $500 in utility support, successfully met its intended goal of short- term housing stabilization. Staff believes ASF was successful in providing assistance to households impacted by ICE. Inquiries were substantial during a three-month period with 2,290 inquiries (731 via email and 1,559 via phone) that were received not just from residents, but from non- profits, religious groups, the Consul General of Mexico, and other groups who informed residents about ASF. Based on current spending and application trends, staff anticipates that ASF will fully expend its $100,000 allocation by the end of October 2025. ASF met community needs and achieved the intended outcome of assisting over one hundred households, demonstrating its effectiveness in providing timely and meaningful support to low- to moderate-income renters in the City who experienced financial instability due to ICE actions.