Need Rent Relief?: 4,000 Eligible, 178 Getting Cash, Aid Still Available, By Jayme Ackemann • Four Watsonville Doctors Join Coastal Health Partners

COMMUNITY NEWS Need Rent Relief?

4,000 Eligible, 178 Getting Cash, Aid Still Available

By Jayme Ackemann

Editor’s note: PolicyLink and the University of Southern California Equity Research Institute created the National Equity Atlas, which estimates the number of households behind on rent debt, debt per household and total rent debt by county and state in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, business shutdowns, job losses and the rent payment moratorium until Sept. 30 in California and nationwide on Oct. 3 in counties with high transmission levels. In Santa Cruz County, about 5,330 households are behind on rent, with rent debt estimated at $5,238 per household, for a total of $27.9 million. The Times editor asked Community Bridges, which is working to make local renters aware of available aid, for an update. •••

Santa Cruz County tenants and landlords have applied for more than $10 million in rental and utility assistance since the start of the pandemic, but that’s a fraction of those households that are eligible to apply for assistance.

The gap between need and available resources is one that organizations, like human services nonprofit Community Bridges, are attempting to address.

The State of California extended its “Housing is Key” Covid-19 eviction moratorium program to Oct. 1.

This additional time coupled with the expanded rental relief program, which covers 100% of the eligible households rent or utility expenses offers more complete protections for both renters and landlords.

“We need to reach more people, that’s the bottom line,” said Community Bridges CEO Raymon Cancino. “There are nearly 4,000 eligible households in Santa Cruz County and just 178 are already receiving cash assistance.” He acknowleged that “early on the application may have been challenging, but our state partners have streamlined the process so that more people can get funding more quickly. The process is easier for today’s applicants.”

Community Bridges is launching an outreach campaign focused on the communities with the greatest need to raise awareness about the availability of funding. But all individuals are encouraged to reach out for help by visiting HousingisKey.com or www.housing.ca.gov or calling 833-430-2122.

Ray Cancino

The program covers up to 100% of unpaid or future rent and may also help low-income renters pay some or all of their unpaid utility bills, including gas, electric, water and internet services.

California allocated $5.2 billion in rent relief to the state’s eligible residents. Roughly 1,100 eligible households have submitted applications for funding.

For local support with rental relief applications or ongoing case management, individuals also may contact Community Bridges at (831) 219-8607, or visit http:// communitybridges.org/Covid19

More than two-thirds of the applications received through the local partner network to which Community Bridges belongs, have already received funding. n •••

Jayme Ackemann is a writer and public policy consultant who lives in San Lorenzo Valley.

Four Watsonville Doctors Join Coastal Health Partners

Coastal Health Partners, a multi-specialty medical group serving Santa Cruz County and surrounding communities, has added four specialty physicians to further expand the wide range of high-quality surgical services it offers.

The physicians — two general surgeons, an orthopedic surgeon, and an orthopedic/spine surgeon — bring significant expertise in their respective practice areas as well as extensive experience in performing advanced, minimally invasive, and robotic-assisted surgeries. Coastal Health Partners is affiliated with Watsonville Community Hospital.

The four surgeons who have joined the medical group are: • Sarah Brant, MD, a general surgeon specializing in gastrointestinal/ colorectal, endocrine, breast, and minimally invasive surgery • Faisal Mirza, MD, an orthopedic

surgeon specializing in total joint replacement, shoulder, and sports medicine • Ryan Nolan, MD, a general surgeon specializing in robotic and minimally invasive gastrointestinal and abdominal surgery • Kris Okumu, MD, an orthopedic/ spine surgeon specializing in minimally invasive spine surgery and robotic-assisted total joint replacement surgery “We are excited to welcome these four outstanding physicians to our medical group,” said Peter Bretan, MD, FACS, a board-certified urologist and kidney transplant surgeon with Coastal Health Partners. “Collectively, they broaden the scope of specialized surgical services offered in our local community. This includes access to advanced robotic technology for total joint replacement at Watsonville Community Hospital, which is the only hospital in our area to offer this cutting-edge technology.” Dr. Bretan also serves as president of the California Medical Association and past president of the California Urological Association. In addition to Dr.

Bretan, the other physician members of Coastal Health Partners are: • Omid Bakhtar, DO, nephrology • Stanley Hwang, MD, cardiology • Andrew Knorr, MD, urology

Coastal Health Partners is a multispecialty medical group serving Santa Cruz County and its surrounding communities. The group’s physician members are committed to providing comprehensive patient-centered healthcare in a healing environment. Their services are frequently selected for the value of the care they provide. In addition, the Coastal Health Partners physicians are respected for their integrity and admired for their commitment to their patients. n •••

For more info about Coastal Health visit www.mycoastalhealthpartners.com or call (831) 728-4227.

Faisal Mirza Kris Okumu Ryan Nolan Sarah Brant