Correspondence - Item 17 - Laserfiche WebLink

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We urge the Council to increase funding for the Program by at least $500,000 to ensure continued support through the rest of the fiscal year. We encourage the Council to return to their original $1 million proposal by identifying funds from the City's $74 million reserve fund, as previously recommended on the dais by members of the Council. Expanding the fund would reflect the true scale of community need and reaffirm the City's commitment to standing by immigrant families during this difficult time. This Program builds upon existing infrastructure that delivers aid quickly and effectively to those most in need. Additional funding would enable the Program to reach more households at a time when ICE's $75 billion budget and intensified enforcement activity are expected to create unprecedented demand for local assistance. We also recommend that the Council update the Program criteria to prioritize households with the greatest financial need, ensuring greater equity in the distribution of funds. This includes clarifying eligibility thresholds so that the Program primarily supports households with lower incomes such as those that would be considered acutely low-income, extremely low-income, or very low -income —those earning less than $60,000 annually —who are highest at risk of housing instability and economic insecurity following immigration enforcement actions that disrupt households. Strengthening the Program is a tangible step toward building a more compassionate and responsive city —one that puts the needs of its residents first. For these reasons, we strongly urge the Council to direct staff to expand and fund the critical Ayuda Sin Fronteras Program, ensuring our communities continue to receive the emergency support they urgently need. Sincerely, Sandra De Anda Director of Policy and Legal Strategy Orange County Rapid Response Network