One year ago, Congress defunded public media. Now that we're 100% community funded, please become a sustaining member or increase your existing membership today.
LA extends tenant aid program as city postpones deadline for new contract bids
A view of downtown Los Angeles from an apartment building rooftop.
(
Grace Widyatmadja
/
NPR
)
Topline:
The Los Angeles City Council voted Wednesday to pay nearly $15 million to extend renter assistance funding into next spring, meaning funds will continue to flow temporarily to a coalition of organizations that provide legal aid, rent relief and eviction defense to struggling tenants.
The backstory: The coalition, Stay Housed L.A., has been funded by the city and county of L.A. since the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic. The council and Mayor Karen Bass had approved a new contract for Stay Housed L.A., but City Attorney Hydee Feldstein Soto refused to sign it this summer, claiming the sole-source contract violated the city’s charter. Soon after declining to approve the contract, Feldstein Soto launched an audit of the Legal Aid Foundation of L.A., the lead contractor for Stay Housed L.A.
Where the process stands now: The city’s Housing Department put out a request for submissions in September for the new contract. But tenant advocates argue it’s unlikely that the city will have a new contractor in place before eviction defense and rent relief funding runs out for the existing Stay Housed L.A. contract.
Listen
0:46
LA extends tenant aid program as city postpones deadline for new contract bids
City officials recently announced the Housing Department “has determined a need” to postpone the submission deadline for the new contract. They did not provide a reason for the delay, and new dates have yet to be announced.
The details of the extension: The temporary contract extension will run through March 31. Barbara Schultz with the Legal Aid Foundation of L.A. — the lead contractor for Stay Housed L.A. — said providers are “grateful” for the extension, but the delays remain confusing. “Short-term extensions limit our ability to staff legal services and threaten to leave renters in limbo when they come for help,” Schultz said.
One year ago, Congress voted to defund public media, eliminating a critical $1.7 million from our budget every year going forward. But they couldn’t silence us, and we’re not going anywhere. LAist is now 100% community funded and that means we’re taking our future into our own hands and turning to you to keep local reporting strong.
You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our nonprofit newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our communities. We are free to follow facts wherever they lead and to hold power to account without fear or favor. Our only loyalty is to our readers and listeners and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen Southern California’s communities.
If this story helped you, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our nonprofit newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our communities. We are free to follow facts wherever they lead and to hold power to account without fear or favor. Our only loyalty is to our readers and listeners and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen Southern California’s communities.
If this story helped you, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
Senior Vice President News, Editor in Chief
