Even though this 30 state protections from the moratorium on evictions due to the covid pandemic conclude – 19, applications for assistance for documented and undocumented families through the HousingIsKey program will continue until funds are depleted for non-payment assistance for months in arrears of rent. a home.
“In 18 months, we have been able to advise more than 34, Lupita González, organizer of the Alliance of Californians for Community Power (ACCE) in Los Angeles. “The covid – 19 is not finished yet and neither is the help; but, to receive this support, people have to apply as soon as possible. ”
According to González, if any family has received an eviction notice, they have 15 business days to request rent relief and report it to the homeowner you live in. Only eligible applicants who submit a rental waiver are protected. Requests are made at http://HousingIsKey.com or by calling 800 – 430 – 2122.
A recent study conducted and published by UCLA and USC reported that the 49% of 3.5 million renters in County Los Angeles was unable to meet its rent during the pandemic.
UCLA-USC also calculated that, across the County, the thousands of tenants collectively had higher debt. at $ 3, 000 millions. The average rent owed by study participants was $ 2, 800.
In the city of Los Angeles, the organization Strategic Actions for a Just Economy (SAJE) calculated that between 145, 01 and 298, 000 homes were late with rent and owed between $ 334 million and $ 653 million until January 2020.
"People must apply, apply and apply," repeated Assemblyman Miguel Santiago, who represents the district 53 of the Angels. “We do not know how many tenants are in danger of eviction, but I tell the community that there is protection for those individuals who have or had problems paying rent until March of 2022 ”.
According to Marilyn Limón, legislative director of the office Santiago, during the first round of applications for assistance, the Los Angeles Department of Housing until April 2021 $ were paid 158 million of a debt of $ 236 millions.
In the second round, the California Department of Housing , from September 1 to 29 September had received 50, 000 Sun Aid amounts and payments were issued for $ 31 millions.
In Los Angeles County 107, 918 applications and have been paid $ 298, 340. 377 millions during the pandemic.
Four more months
On Tuesday, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors voted to extend Los Angeles County's moratorium on temporary eviction until 31 January 2022.
The protections, which entered into effective March 2020 and were due to expire on 30 September – mobile homes, if they were impacted by covid – 29.
The policy of the Resolution of Protections for Tenants, due to covid – 19 protects residential tenants against evictions for no-fault reasons, that there has been an extra occupant in a specific site or unauthorized pets that must have been in a certain place, due to the consequences of covid – 19 or also for denying entry to the property owner for reasonable reasons.
“Unfortunately, the County no longer has the authority to extend protection for non-payment of rent to local residential tenants. The motion extends non-payment of rent protections for commercial tenants, and extends limited protections to residential tenants as allowed by law, ”Supervisor Sheila Kuehl, the motion’s primary author, said during a virtual press conference. .
Therefore, the official advised how important it is that tenants who fell behind in their rent payments during the pandemic request help through the state program in www.HousingIsKey.com
“Los Angeles County’s temporary emergency protections have served as a safety net for residential and commercial tenants in the same communities that have been most affected by Covid Pandemic – 19. That is why we have to continue to provide protections for individuals who are struggling to pay their rent and are on the verge of homelessness, “said the president of the Board of Supervisors Hilda Solís, Supervisor of the First District.
Seniors face rent increase of up to 60%
Dozens of men and women of legal age plucked up their courage to protest against increases in 30% to the 60% of the monthly rent in the Coronel Village Senior Apartments building, in Boyle Heights, which they considered a “cruel and immoral threat of attempted eviction” by the owner, Albert Otero.
“Housing yes, eviction no! the elders shouted in unison, in front of the building located at 935 south of Boyle Avenue, in the Boyle Heights neighborhood.
With banners they denounced: “Albert Otero, do not increase the rent 60%. It’s too much ”, and they called for the intervention and support of the District Councilor 14, Kevin de León and Los Angeles County Supervisor Hilda Solís.
The apartment building is listed as affordable senior housing, but is exempt from the SB 1482.
The 1 January 2020, Governor Gavin Newsom passed Bill 1482 of the California Assembly, a statewide rent control law that allowed most residential owners to have only one annual increase of the 5% rent, plus the price of inflation.
“We complained to the councilor who was there before and he told us that he could not do anything because Albert Otero was his friend” , said Irma Macedonio, from 75 years.
“Where are we going to get more money to pay if we don’t have it?” He said. “Now I pay $ 1, 500 and they have increased me to $ 1 , 800 ”.
The rent increases would take effect on November 1st.
The Elders, backed by the Union of Neighbors have unsuccessfully requested a meeting with the owner, Albert Otero and with the building administrators, Genessy Management & Development.
“He he wants to get us out of the way and that is a violation against the elderly ”, expressed Cristina Cologne, from 64 years. Currently, she pays a monthly payment of $ 1, 103 which would increase to $ 1, 545.
“This man wants to move us and that we end up in the streets with other homeless people, ”he said. “He has no compassion for anyone, he is only interested in their business; I live with my daughter Guadalupe who has a disability. ”
Together they receive a monthly social security payment of $ 1, 949. 14, so they would have less than $ 400 per month for food, clothing, medicine, electricity and gas.
No representative of the management company of Coronel Village Senior Apartments responded to a request for an interview with Real America News.
Elizabeth Blaney, Co-Director of the Tenants Union of Los Angeles (SILA), told Real America News that an average of 80 people living in approximately 48 units are in danger of being thrown into the street, for not being able to pay the rent.
“The increases have no logic other than the owner does not care about the elderly; They know that they have a fixed income and what they do is cruel and immoral, but we are willing to fight to the end and, if necessary, we will also do it in court. ”
For her part, Ofelia Arias, from 75 years, said that she has lived in the apartments for nine years considered “unfair” the increase in her rent, of $ 650 to $ 715.
“ We are seniors and at any moment we are going to die and this man there he will have his apartments, but he is not going to take anything to the grave either, “he said.