On Aug. 4, 2020, the Santa Ana City Council voted unanimously to allocate $28.6 million in federal money toward a massive effort to provide financial and health assistance to members of the Santa Ana community affected by the pandemic. Santa Ana CARES was an undertaking unlike any by the City before.
Within two weeks, the City had launched financial assistance programs for residents, businesses, non-profits and local artists. City staff established COVID-19 testing sites, handed out masks and rolled into neighborhoods and parks with a Mobile Resource Center to bring this aid directly to the people.
By Dec. 31, 2020, the City of Santa Ana had distributed:
• $4,689,415 in business grants to 440 Santa Ana businesses
• $2,985,239 in housing assistance grants for landlords and tenants
• $928,500 in utility assistance grants to 1,857 Santa Ana households
• $480,000 in artist grants to Santa Ana based artists and art organizations
• $220,500 in childcare grants to 221 families
• $122,580 in isolation assistance for 81 Santa Ana households with a COVID-19 diagnosis
• Over 35,000 COVID-19 tests for at-risk populations
• Over 300,000 face masks and other supplies at 121 Santa Ana neighborhoods and parks
Throughout this, Santa Ana CARES ambassadors were on the front lines in neighborhoods or staffing the Santa Ana CARES hotline – which took more than 7,500 calls in English, Spanish and Vietnamese – so they could help residents access these programs.
This documentary highlights these extraordinary efforts by the City of Santa Ana.
Find COVID-19 updates and resources at https://www.santa-ana.org/covid19.
