It is estimated that by the end of this month, millions of renters across the country will have to confront eviction, especially people of color, and the option of living on the street as a last resort.
Looming evictions
Many of them are concentrated in Los Angeles County and especially in its Latino population. It is the result of the loss of income as a result of the COVID pandemic, and consequently, the non-payment of rent.
To inform the community of the resources available to them from the various agencies of Los Angeles County, it organized in December together with Ethnic Media Services (EMS) a series of online encounters with ethnic media.
This one that follows, moderated by Pilar Marrero, renowned journalist and associate editor of EMS, focused on available solutions to the housing problem.
Dana Pratt, head of tenant protection in the Department of Consumer Affairs; Azucena Favela, Deputy Director of the Department of Consumer Affairs and Business; Marisa Gutiérrez, mediation supervisor in the same department, and Emilio Salas, acting executive director of the county Development Authority.
Help paying rent
Dana Pratt referred to those for whom paying rent consumes a significant percentage of their income and they constitute half of the county’s population. “We live in one of the most expensive housing and housing markets in the country,” said Pratt. In 2018, he said, the Board of Supervisors ordered the drafting and implementation of a housing stabilization program, including limiting rent increases and opposition to evictions that lack just cause.
“There are at least 350,000 families without an adult who generates enough income to pay the rent, something that alarms me.”
To protect these families and in times of COVID, a moratorium on evictions has been determined from March 4 until January 31, 2021 unless it is extended further.
The moratorium prevents evictions from both homes and businesses when the tenant cannot really pay the rent due to the problems generated by COVID-19. Landlords also cannot charge extra fees for late payments or interest.
In the end, you have to pay the rent
This, the official stipulated, does not mean that the rent does not have to be paid. It is just a postponement, allowed only because the tenant cannot pay for it at the moment. But as soon as this provision expires, you must pay off the debt in between 6 and 12 months.
“The tenant is obliged to notify the owner within seven days of the monthly payment that he will not be able to pay it due to COVID. And we recommend that if you can pay part or all of the amount, you pay it now to reduce what you will owe later anyway, ”said Pratt.
Likewise, he announced, a new program for tenants, Stay Housed, has been created that will provide assistance to low-income people facing eviction and who live in areas especially hit by the pandemic.
Here, in cooperation with legal aid institutions, legal advice is provided and even representation in court with volunteer attorneys.
“The problem is that 90% of tenants face eviction without legal representation. And this assistance is crucial as we approach the coming tsunami of evictions, when the moratorium expires.
If you need this kind of help, call 833 223-7368 Monday through Friday from 8:30 to 5:30, or go to rent.lacounty.gov.
Assistance for affected homeowners
Azucena Favela heads the county’s eviction prevention unit, which was formed in the wake of the 2008 recession.
“This housing crisis is different because it involves both renters and homeowners. The latter, who cannot pay their mortgage payments, should know that there is a moratorium on lawsuits or foreclosures (foreclosure) until the end of January, ”Favela said.
The county program reduces or suspends the mortgage payment for up to six months and in some cases, up to months, provided the homeowner is eligible. For example, if your work hours were cut, or you lost your income from work, or if you rent houses and tenants don’t pay, you can ask for that help.
“We have a team of counselors at your disposal, who can guide you through the process,” Favela said.
They should go to the county Disaster Relief Center by calling 833 238 4450.
“We have established a partnership with 14 community organizations that provide housing services, as well as a team of financial navigators who can help find other county services when there is a reduction in income.”
Finally, regarding the payment of property taxes, Favela said that 40,000 requests have been received for exemption from the late payment fee. But it is not considered not to collect property taxes. The county is developing a mortgage assistance program for those who own between one and four rental units in low-income communities.
Mediation between the parties
Maritza Gutiérrez has worked in the same department for 21 years, where she heads the section that offers free mediation services in conflict cases.
It is a confidential and voluntary process so that the parties can dialogue. And in 79% of the cases, we managed to solve the problems without having to go to court.
It deals with issues such as the return of the security deposit, the repayment of the rent withheld during the pandemic, requests for repairs in the houses, rent increases during the pandemic … even barking pedros and noise complaints at night. And even if it is that you can’t make your car or credit card payment, we contact your creditors.
All of these services are provided in English and Spanish.
Help for owners
Emilio Salas, who heads the county development authority, spoke of the emergency program to help restaurant owners, activated once they were banned from serving diners outside the premises. The program consists of providing grants to restaurants, money that they do not have to pay back.
The demand is such that the website where the requests were made collapsed in just an hour.
“We have four renter assistance programs, including Section 8,” Salas said. We had $ 110 million at our disposal to provide emergency assistance. Well, in the first two weeks, 60,000 tenants applied for that help, and a total of 90,000. Another 150,000 filed applications in the city of Los Angeles. It is that there is a tremendous need.
Our system provides help to those affected by COVID in low-income neighborhoods such as Bell Gardens or South Los Angeles. There goes 50% of the money.
How much can they receive? Those who earn 30% or less of the median income can receive up to $ 10,000. Those who earn 75% or less can receive up to $ 7,500.
Unfounded complaints
“Many rental homeowners complained that their tenants take advantage of the situation and simply don’t pay the rent. But we find that it is not true. People do everything they can to pay their rent ”, explained the official.
“It’s that more than 70% of the people we help could qualify for higher help, if they had not made rent payments, taking high-interest loans, mortgaging their cars, and other measures.”
To prevent so many thousands from becoming homeless, the county along with the state bought ten hotels and motels in Los Angeles, nearly a thousand units, which are now temporary homes but later small permanent studios.
In addition, the county ruled since January 2020, that to prevent homelessness, the owner of rental units cannot reject whoever pays with “Section 8”, where they receive help from the government. On the other hand we give you incentives, such as paying the first month’s rent.
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