KIRSTEN ENGEL COMMITTEES:

1700 WEST WASHINGTON, SUITE H JUDICIARY

PHOENIX, ARIZONA 85007-2844 NATURAL RESOURCES
CAPITOL PHONE: (602) 926-5178 ENERGY & WATER
CAPITOL FAX: (602) 417-3152 ______
TOLL FREE: 1-800-352-8404
Kengel@azleg.gov ETHICS
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DISTRICT 10

June 22, 2020

Dear Governor Ducey,

We write to respectfully request that you extend and strengthen your March 24th residential
eviction executive delay orders to prevent evictions for an additional six months, to January 22nd,
2021.

Data suggests tens of thousands of Arizonans will become homeless on July 23 if you do not
extend your current eviction delay order. On this date, months of back rent will become due (and
for many also late penalties) for which tenants will not be able to pay. Most will not even have
the benefit of a 5-day waiting period because a majority of county justices of the peace have
already approved eviction orders.

Although the Department of Housing has available rental assistance to eligible tenants, due to the
slow-footed rollout getting this assistance to tenants, and because of the high bar being imposed
by ADOH in providing this assistance, thousands of those who could benefit from this program
will not have received the assistance by the July 22nd date.

Since evictions resumed June 1st in Pima County, approximately 783 cases have been processed
and, based on a sampling of those, an eviction order has been issued in about 75 percent of the
cases heard. In Maricopa County, approximately 1,700 eviction orders have been issued since
mid-March. Based just on these numbers in just two Arizona counties, we can expect well over
2,000 evictions to be ripe for enforcement upon the expiration of your Order July 23rd. But the
number could well be much higher – by perhaps several thousand -- as we know landlords have
held off filing eviction actions this spring due to your Eviction Order. Once your Order expires,
there will be no reason to hold off, and we are likely to see the flood of eviction actions.

Although some localities will be using CARES Act funding to address the “eviction cliff” that
begins July 23rd, these funds are too little, too late. Unless you extend your Executive Order, we
fear that relief agencies will be unable to handle the sheer number of persons who will need
housing assistance and many will end up homeless. Because many of those evicted will
themselves be sick with COVID-19 or be caring for a family member sick with the virus, to evict
them from their homes and put them on the street or in congregate facilities will endanger the
lives of many others. With an eviction on their records and possibly sick, these tenants will have
trouble finding alternative housing.

We recognize that landlords, especially small landlords, are reliant upon rent to keep in business.
We strongly urge you to simplify and extend the Rental Assistance program administered by
ADOH so that these landlords receive the rent owed them. If stronger measures are necessary, a
forgivable loan program for small business landlords, for example, we would be interested in
June 22, 2020

working with you to ensure that not only are tenants kept safe but landlords are able to stay in
business.

These are unprecedented times. Thousands of Arizonans have lost their jobs – temporarily we
hope. As a result, they have also temporarily lost their ability to pay for shelter for themselves
and for their families. While the state’s rental assistance program can help, the program has been
beset by delays in delivering this assistance to eligible families. We can and must do more to
prevent the pending crisis of potentially thousands of families unable to pay back rent. By
extending your Executive Order by six months, until January 22, 2021, you will protect families
and their children from homelessness and protect members of the public from the further spread
of the disease occasioned by widespread evictions.

Thank you for your consideration.

Sincerely,

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Representative Engel Representative Peten Representative Sierra

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Representative Jermaine Representative Bolding Representative Fernandez

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Representative Teran Representative Cano Representative Chavez

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Representative Lieberman Representative Butler Representative Salman

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Representative Rodriguez Representative Pawlik Representative Andrade

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Senator Alston Senator Rios Senator Bradley

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Senator Dalessandro Representative Powers-Hannley Representative Teller

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Senator Bowie Representative Gabaldon Representative Epstein
June 22, 2020

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Representative Blanc Senator Mendez Senator Navarrete

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Senator Steele Senator Contreras Senator Quezada

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Senator Otondo Senator Peshlakai Senator Gonzales