Contact your State Representatives by 10:00 a.m. Monday, March 23!

**Update:  On March 23, the Arizona House passed the bill to allocate $50 million for Coronavirus assistance. The bill is likely to be approved by the Governor. VIP will continue to watch this issue and monitor how funds are distributed. **

The Arizona House of Representatives will consider a $50 million Housing Emergency Assistance bill on Monday morning, as a response to the Covid-19 emergency.

The Arizona Republic reported that the bill may not have enough votes in the House, despite passing with wide bipartisan support in the Senate last week!

The $50 million is designated for for:

1. Housing assistance payments to prevent eviction or foreclosure.
2. Assistance for entities helping homeless persons, incl. shelter, food, clothing and transportation.
3. Assistance for small businesses (fewer than 50 employees), non-profits and health care providers.
4. Food bank operations.

Social distancing policies and restrictions on restaurants and bars are necessary to contain the Corona virus spread, but business closures and slowdowns due to the Coronavirus crisis are causing job loss and hardship now. Over 300,000 Arizona workers work in restaurants, bars and hotels, and are already experiencing furloughs and layoffs.

ACTION:
•  Call or email your State Representatives and ask them to vote “YES” on SB1690.

State Legislator contacts:  www.azleg.gov/findmylegislator/