The report, titled “Pushed Out, Priced Out, Locked Out,” said the 12% increase in the county’s homeless population documented in the most recent count could be slowed significantly through the implementation of permanent renter-protection laws. A strong rent-control ordinance in the county would provide protection for more than 403,000 renters, according to the report.
The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors in December adopted a temporary rent stabilization ordinance that limited rent increases to 3 percent a year and placed restrictions on tenant evictions. The ordinance was extended in April until the end of the year, but the groups behind the new report say the move doesn’t go far enough.
“While thousands of families have been able to breathe a little easier because of the temporary rent freeze, to feel truly secure, they need long-term protections that only a permanent rent stabilization ordinance can bring,” said Pamela Agustin, an organizer with the Eastside Leadership for Equitable and Accountable Development Strategies coalition.
In addition to Eastside LEADS, other groups behind the report include the Unincorporated Tenants United coalition, the Community Economic Development Clinic at UCLA School of Law and the nonprofit Public Counsel.
According to the report, tenant outreach and education are vital to making rent stabilization work, along with strong efforts to enforce the law. The document noted that of tenants currently facing eviction, 90% do not have adequate legal representation.
Speaking to reporters in a conference call, one tenant described having rent raised dramatically for her and her family, only to be ultimately evicted when the landlord decided to sell the property.
“We were unable to find affordable housing,” she said. “… It was either because the size of our family or because of the pets, and it was too expensive to move. We spent $600 just in application fees just to apply for housing.”
Eventually, she was able to find a housing solution, but said she initially had to sleep in her car or bunk with friends.
The report also called on the county to support state laws that further protect tenants and strengthen rent controls.
“In addition to an enhanced code enforcement program, the county should consider expanding programs to assist low-income landlords with building maintenance and energy efficiency improvements,” the report stated. “Such programs would help low-income landlords comply with code requirements and improve living conditions for tenants.”
The report used data from 2010-2017 and stated within that time, more than 500,000 eviction lawsuits had been filed throughout the entire county.
Representatives of the organizations said they plan to present the information and full report to each county supervisor, along with data specific to each of their districts. [View the full report here.]
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Robert Blake says
Gentrification, Chinese and Arab investors with cash in hand, taking massive amounts of properties. The situation is out of control. Rent control seems to be the only option, because greedy corporate landlords only care about money. They raise rents just because; thousands of working families are becoming homeless, although they have full time jobs. This is not America, we are turning into another banana republic.
freeEverything says
keep voting democrat. And you will keep getting this BS
ExAV says
“Pushed Out, Priced Out, Locked Out….and sitting on a 750 mile long, locked and loaded earthquake faultline.
F L.A. County in every way.
The land of the sell-outs and money worshipping scum, whether it’s to the Chinese, Iranians, Russians, doesn’t matter as long as you have a suit-case full of cash to hide in the SoCal real estate market.
A manufactured housing crisis.
Enjoy your life sitting in traffic, passing through neighborhoods you’ll never afford.
Johnson says
What bulls**t!
Eric says
Will be a waste of time and money. The only way to deal with this crisis is to build massive projects and have the government run it. So when the tenants don’t pay rent they can stay for free. You think rent control and lawyers stopping eviction will help. Yea right!,
Jon says
Can’t afford rent go to school and get a higher paying job . These people can’t expect to live on meager earnings their whole life! Rent control only causes complacency amongst the population. We need to constantly evolve into better people and learn to overcome any financial or emotional obstacles. Can’t get afford a home because of your family’s size stop having so many kids, It’s irresponsible . Lazy people always expecting handouts . You want to purge this valley of all these low life’s on government aid , raise the cost of housing in the area !! Higher income , higher housing costs will equal a higher quality of individuals in this valley .
Alexis says
Jon…Higher quality of individuals! It’s the so-called higher quality individual wearing thousand dollar suits, living in expensive homes; greedy , grasping, deceitful, self-centered thieves that are bring this nation down.
Jon says
Not necessarily , just a higher standard of living and more family oriented community . Let all these swamp rats go back to the swamp.
Slumlord says
Gentrification.