NEWS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 17, 2020
Contact: Communications@lawfoundation.org
Law Foundation Calls For Santa Clara County to Enact Emergency Anti-Eviction Policy
SAN JOSE, CA — The Law Foundation of Silicon Valley today is calling for Santa Clara County and all cities in the Silicon Valley region to enact an emergency anti-eviction policy.
“Our friends, families, and neighbors cannot focus on maintaining good health if they are worried about losing their home,” said Alison Brunner, CEO of the Law Foundation. “Now is the time for all of us to step up for our community members rather than turn our backs on them. Cities must act now to enact eviction prevention measures.”
The Law Foundation is continuing to offer free legal services for those living in Silicon Valley and is focused on mitigating the negative impacts felt by low-income communities during the coronavirus outbreak. In addition, the Law Foundation:
Continues to call on Gov. Newsom to enact a statewide ban on evictions.
Has advocated for strengthening San Jose’s eviction moratorium.
Has sample written eviction moratorium ordinances for Gilroy, Morgan Hill, Milpitas, Mountain View, Cupertino, Palo Alto, and Santa Clara and is urging these cities to enact this critical legislation immediately.
Is calling on cities and the Santa Clara Valley Water District to stop all homeless encampment sweeps. The repeated, traumatic, and unnecessary displacement these sweeps cause will only make this public health emergency more dangerous for everyone in our community.
Will offer a template letter on our website for San Jose residents to provide to their landlord in the event that their income and ability to pay rent is impacted by the coronavirus outbreak.
Those who are in need of housing legal services can call the Foundation at: (408) 280-2424. While the Law Foundation’s offices are temporarily closed to prevent the spread of coronavirus, its staff and attorneys will continue to offer services remotely and serve clients. The Law Foundation will respond to calls on its intake lines and are eager to continue supporting our clients during this challenging time. For resources, community members can visit www.lawfoundation.org/coronavirus.
“A piecemeal approach, rather than a statewide ban, is putting thousands of Californians at risk of homelessness,” said Nadia Aziz, Directing Attorney for the Housing program. “We know this crisis is disproportionately impacting low-income people and communities of color who won’t be able to work from home and rely on every paycheck to make it through the month. Preventing evictions for those impacted by the coronavirus and protecting our homeless community should be a major part of California’s response.”
