LOS ANGELES — On Friday, Councilmember Eunisses Hernandez advanced legislation to protect tenants who have been approved for the United to House LA (ULA) Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP) from eviction. Councilmember Hernandez’s motion—which was co-presented by Council President Paul Krekorian and seconded by Councilmembers Nithya Raman and Hugo Soto-Martínez—directs the City Attorney to prepare a new ordinance prohibiting landlords from evicting tenants who are approved to receive rental assistance before their claims are processed.
On February 1, pandemic-era rent debt accrued from October 1, 2021 to January 31, 2023 is due in full. The City has allocated $30 million in emergency rental assistance funds but over 75% of that money still hasn’t been distributed, leaving at least 3,300 renters who have been approved to receive assistance waiting for the funds ahead of the deadline later this week. The new ordinance will grant protection to tenants who are awaiting ERAP funds for the next 120 days as the Housing Department works to administer the program.
“With the February 1st rent debt deadline looming and thousands of tenants at-risk of eviction, it's incumbent on us to do everything we can to stop the eviction-to-homelessness pipeline and keep people in their homes,” said Councilmember Eunisses Hernandez. “This ordinance will ensure that the spirit of ULA is realized by extending protections to people who are simply waiting on their approved applications to move through the process.”
“Tenants who have already been approved for emergency rental assistance should not be evicted while they’re waiting for their checks,” said Council President Krekorian. “Those landlords are going to get paid, so they shouldn’t be putting tenants out just because the City took a little longer to deliver payment.”
“With the landscape for renters changing once again on February 1st, it is imperative that we take action as a city to ensure that those who qualified for Emergency Rental Assistance are not unduly evicted because the city has not sent out their checks on time,” said Councilmember Nithya Raman.
“This ordinance is about making sure that families who are in the process of receiving Emergency Rental Assistance aren’t unfairly evicted,” said Councilmember Hugo Soto-Martínez. “We still have millions of dollars needing to be distributed to people across LA, and we can’t allow these families to be forced out of their homes when help is on the way.”
Renter Resources
Ahead of the February 1 deadline, Councilmember Hernandez is encouraging renters to review tenants’ rights and resources available to Council District 1 residents.
Submitting Outstanding ULA Documentation:
If you applied for the Emergency Rental Assistance Program between September 2023 and October 2023 and your status on the Portal is “Tenant Eligibility Under Review,” submit all requested documentation as soon as possible.
If you need assistance, call the ULA ERAP Hotline at (866) 557-7368, Monday to Friday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. For those who are hearing or speech impaired, use the TTY line by calling 711.
Eviction Defense: Renters who receive an eviction notice are advised to follow the steps listed below.
Do Not Self-Evict. Stay in your unit and reach out to the City immediately for help navigating what your options are.
Call the Los Angeles Housing Department Hotline: (866) 557-7368.
Identify the type of notice you received (i.e. 3-Day Notice, Unlawful Detainer, etc.). More information about notices can be found here. Be sure to respond to the formal notice by the deadline provided to prevent automatically losing your case.
Reach out to StayHoused LA for resources on how to respond to Unlawful Detainers, apply for legal assistance, and find additional resources for defending against eviction.
Additional Resources
Stay Housed LA explains current renter protections and hosts workshops to empower tenants with information about their rights.
LA Law Library provides assistance to individuals seeking support getting connected to services and resources. Their Eviction Defense Workshops walk tenants through the Tenant Power Toolkit to answer eviction complaints.
Strategic Actions for a Just Economy (SAJE) hosts a Tenant Action Clinic on the first and third Tuesdays of each month. Staff is available from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. to answer questions and help tenants understand their rights.
Inquilinos Unidos hosts a weekly legal clinic on Mondays from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Call (213) 483-7497 to make an appointment.
For more information on rights and resources, Council District 1 residents can visit cd1.lacity.org/cd1renters.
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