Congress has cut federal funding for public media — a $3.4 million loss for LAist. We count on readers like you to protect our nonprofit newsroom. Become a monthly member and sustain local journalism.
Your guide to renting in this complicated — and expensive — place.
LA’s COVID Eviction Protections Are Now Gone. Here’s Where Renters Can Get Help
A “for lease” sign advertises an available apartment in the city of Los Angeles.
(
David Wagner
/
LAist
)
Topline:
Low-income renters across Los Angeles County are now dealing with a massive change: local protections from eviction for tenants who can’t pay rent on time due to the pandemic’s economic harms are no longer in effect.
What has changed: L.A. County’s COVID-19 eviction protections expired on Friday. Starting this month, tenants who do not pay their rent on time can face eviction — even if they’re still recovering from COVID-related income loss, illness or a family member’s death.
Why it matters: An estimated 246,000 L.A. area tenants were already behind on rent heading into April. Elected officials and homeless service providers and tenants themselves have all been bracing for a coming wave of evictions.
Support for LAist comes from
What’s next: Tenants who fail to pay rent on time could receive notices to pay or quit, and have an eviction case filed against them in court, as early as this week. The eviction process can move quickly, and housing advocates say renters need to be aware of these changes in order to defend their rights. If you get an eviction notice, advocates advise renters to take action right way.
Where renters can get help:
- The city and county-funded group StayHousedLA.org offers legal assistance to struggling renters.
- LAist has a comprehensive guide to all the changing rules for L.A. renters.
- Join us April 13 for a free virtual event to get your questions answered.
As Editor-in-Chief of our newsroom, I’m extremely proud of the work our top-notch journalists are doing here at LAist. We’re doing more hard-hitting watchdog journalism than ever before — powerful reporting on the economy, elections, climate and the homelessness crisis that is making a difference in your lives. At the same time, it’s never been more difficult to maintain a paywall-free, independent news source that informs, inspires, and engages everyone.
Simply put, we cannot do this essential work without your help. Federal funding for public media has been clawed back by Congress and that means LAist has lost $3.4 million in federal funding over the next two years. So we’re asking for your help. LAist has been there for you and we’re asking you to be here for us.
We rely on donations from readers like you to stay independent, which keeps our nonprofit newsroom strong and accountable to you.
No matter where you stand on the political spectrum, press freedom is at the core of keeping our nation free and fair. And as the landscape of free press changes, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust, but the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news from our community.
Please take action today to support your trusted source for local news with a donation that makes sense for your budget.
Thank you for your generous support and believing in independent news.
Chip in now to fund your local journalism
(
LAist
)
Trending on LAist
-
Administrators say the bargaining units should be dismissed, or that they have no standing. One campus is going after the federal agency in charge of union activity. -
The landslide is not connected to the greater Portuguese Bend landslide, city officials said. -
Nom. Nom. Nom. The event destroyed the internet when it was first announced — and sold out in minutes. -
The critical findings are part of long-awaited after-action report was released Thursday. It contains recommendations for increasing emergency staffing and updating old systems. -
Diving has changed, mountain biking has been added. Here's where to watch the Olympics in person in 2028. -
'A Great Day in the Stoke' is a free, daylong event in Orange County billed as 'the largest gathering of Black surfers in history.' The fourth annual festival is set for Saturday in Huntington Beach.
Best of LAist