Hi folks! This Big-Tent coalition letter asks for Council's support in maintaining the current Measure E expenditure plan. Please sign onto this Google form ASAP letting us know that we can sign your name and organization to the letter. Also, personal sign-ons are welcome! 

(Thank you to SV@Home for preparing this letter and Amigos de Guadalupe, Destination: Home, Sacred Heart Community Service, SOMOS Mayfair, Survivors of the Street (SHCS), SVCN, and WPUSA for input.)

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DRAFT LETTER:

Re: May 16 City Council Meeting, Item 3.3, Measure E Proposed Expenditures

Dear Mayor Mahan, Vice Mayor Kamei, and members of the City Council:

We are a broad coalition of organizations and individuals writing to ask you to support maintaining the current Measure E expenditure plan. The proposed changes not only zero out funding for affordable housing next year, but raid the funds received in prior years and creates a massive long term budget obligation to the city. This violates our commitment to voters, undermines our commitment to expanding affordable housing, and ignores the role of affordable and permanent supportive housing in providing real homes for people moving out of interim shelters.

The destabilizing impact of rent burden, overcrowding, displacement, and the increase in homelessness is a result of the lack of homes in our community that people can afford. As a city, we have recently made important commitments to building affordable housing in more parts of the City, expanding opportunities and ensuring that new housing is a resource for neighborhood stability. Taking money from Measure E for band aid solutions is abandoning these commitments. 

Overdependence on emergency interim shelter is a major shift in priorities, and not a responsible policy. We urge you to keep the balanced approach of the current Measure E expenditure plan.

SIGNATURES