On Friday, a caravan rode through Santa Maria in support of community members who have lost their jobs amid shelter-at-home orders.
The caravan was part of a group of local non-profits and labor organizations calling on Governor Gavin Newsom to help the working class families, according to a press release from the Central Coast Alliance United for a Sustainable Economy (CAUSE).
CAUSE said that shelter-at-home orders have left working class families to fend for themselves, often leaving them unable to pay rent and more.
And though evictions can not be forced due to state law, they feel that's not enough: "...families still fear that as soon as emergency orders are done, there's going to be a huge avalanche of debt from all the back rent that's due.," said Abraham Melendrez, a Policy Advocate for CAUSE.
Similar movement have been occurring on state and national levels, says CAUSE in a press release. And that they are calling for "real bail outs" for the working class.
CAUSE also said in a press release that local communities were already dealing with a housing crisis before the pandemic -- and that rent in Santa Barbara County has grown disproportionately to wages earned.
