The Alliance for Community Transit – Los Angeles strives to create just, equitable, sustainable transit systems and neighborhoods for all people in Los Angeles, placing the interest of low-income communities and communities of color first as we create a more sustainable region.
About Us
The Alliance for Community Transit-Los Angeles (ACT-LA) is a broad-based coalition made up of organizations with expertise engaging in transit justice, housing justice, environmental justice, and public health.
Together, we work to build a Los Angeles where all people have access to quality jobs, affordable housing, necessary social services, ample transportation options, and a voice in decision-making.
Our Work
ACT-LA envisions a Los Angeles that is a transit-rich city where all people have access to quality jobs, affordable housing, necessary social services, ample transportation options, and a voice in decision-making. We believe in building a sustainable community through the reduction of toxic air pollution, the promotion of public health, and the strengthening of community culture and heritage.
Transit Justice
Transit riders in Los Angeles are overwhelmingly low-income, people of color, and/or essential workers. Over a million people in the county do not have regular access to a car—yet our transit system is unreliable and fails to adequately connect people with their jobs, school, health care and other needs. Therefore, transit justice is a key avenue for racial and economic justice, as well as climate justice, in Los Angeles county.
Our coalition’s collective vision for transit justice in Los Angeles county: Metro is a sanctuary for the public. The train and bus are fareless, consciously part of the region and integrated into people’s daily lives and neighborhoods. Metro serves the public as libraries do, a public system where people go to feel safe, access information, and receive a high level of service. Metro feels honored to serve youth of color and be a resource for all. Los Angeles is proud of how we have embraced a healthy, community-serving, world-class transit system.
Our Transit Justice Campaigns:
Housing and Land Use Justice
Los Angeles has a history of racist and discriminatory land use practices—and a lack of investment in tenant protections and affordable housing. These historical urban planning priorities have benefited primarily white homeowners, and led to detrimental health consequences, lower life expectancy, and traumatic lived experiences for generations of low-income families and families of color.
Our vision for housing in Los Angeles county: Everyone in Los Angeles will have access to housing that fits their family’s size, needs, and budget and live in communities that are dignified spaces, in safe and healthy environments, and have access to economic, social and cultural resources. Housing is planned thoughtfully in its quality, design, amenities and size to meet our housing needs. Residents have decision-making power regarding their housing, can exercise self-determination, and more. Angelenos will build community through collective ownership of their homes and land. Everyone will have equal access to live in whichever neighborhood they choose, families can choose to stay in their homes for as long as they want, and future generations will have the choice to continue living in the same neighborhoods as their families.
Our Work:
Our Members
ACT-LA is a coalition of 45 member organizations throughout Los Angeles county. Together, we participate in advocacy, organizing, and policy-making—and collaborate on regional campaigns to improve the Southland.
Chairs, Coalition Building Committee
Koreatown Immigrant Workers Alliance (KIWA)
LA Forward
Chairs, Executive Committee
Esperanza Community Housing
Little Tokyo Service Center (LTSC)
Chairs, Housing and Land Use Justice Committee
Community Power Collective (CPC)
Strategic Actions for a Just Economy (SAJE)
Chairs, Transit Justice Committee
Community Power Collective (CPC)
Strategic Actions for a Just Economy (SAJE)
Our Staff
Take Action
Look below for how to take action and fight for transit justice and housing and land use justice in Los Angeles. Don’t see any actions you can take? Sign up for our email updates and we’ll send you action alerts as they happen.
Resources & Updates
Resources
Social Housing 101 [Flyer]
What is social housing? Social housing creates homes that enrich communities instead of corporate landlords. Click here to read more.…
Fareless Report
ACT-LA is proud to partner with member organization Strategic Actions for a Just Economy (SAJE) on a new report: The…
Envisioning a Fareless LA Metro (Flyer)
What is fareless transit, and why does it matter? Click here to read through and share our resource on how…
Updates
Press Advisory for April 19, 2023
MEDIA ADVISORY FOR APRIL 19, 2023 ACT-LA Housing Coalition Rallies, Demanding LA City Council Create Social Housing LA unlocked hundreds…
ACT-LA 2022 Activation
About the Activation Community and thoughtful design can build an infrastructure of safety that all Metro riders can feel. Safety…
ACT-LA’s 2022 Work Plan Overview
As part of yearly visioning and strategy planning with our member organizations, ACT-LA has finalized our 2022 work plan with…
ACT-LA Instagram Feed
ACT-LA`s Campaign Director Scarlett De Leon spoke at @fixlanow`s rally in Echo Park this morning. ACT-LA is a proud member of FIX LA which demands the City of LA deliver social housing and permanent supportive housing on empty lots throughout LA.
Social housing is a proven housing solution across the world that ACT-LA is working to bring to LA in large scale. Social housing in LA will be affordable forever, and run by the tenants of the social housing buildings.
You can learn more about social housing at our website, act-la.org/social-housing.
ACT-LA`s Campaign Director Scarlett De Leon spoke at @fixlanow`s rally in Echo Park this morning. ACT-LA is a proud member of FIX LA which demands the City of LA deliver social housing and permanent supportive housing on empty lots throughout LA.
Social housing is a proven housing solution across the world that ACT-LA is working to bring to LA in large scale. Social housing in LA will be affordable forever, and run by the tenants of the social housing buildings.
You can learn more about social housing at our website, act-la.org/social-housing.
La Vivienda Social es un modelo de vivienda en el cual las comunidades, no los propietarios corporativos, tienen el poder de desarrollar y administrar viviendas. Es una forma de priorizar la vivienda asequible y enriquecer a las comunidades. La Vivienda Social pasa por alto el mercado inmobiliario especulativo que ha aumentado a los alquileres en nuestras comunidades junto con el uso de terrenos de propiedad de la ciudad, lo que permite a los inquilinos trabajar colectivamente para administrar sus hogares. Debido a que la Vivienda Social no se basa en maximizar las ganancias, las rentas se mantienen asequibles para siempre y esto ayuda a mantener intactos los vecindarios.
Cuando se aprobó la Medida ULA el año pasado, nuestra ciudad desbloqueó cientos de millones de dólares para Vivienda Social. Ahora es el momento de aprovechar la oportunidad. 👏
La Vivienda Social es un modelo de vivienda en el cual las comunidades, no los propietarios corporativos, tienen el poder de desarrollar y administrar viviendas. Es una forma de priorizar la vivienda asequible y enriquecer a las comunidades. La Vivienda Social pasa por alto el mercado inmobiliario especulativo que ha aumentado a los alquileres en nuestras comunidades junto con el uso de terrenos de propiedad de la ciudad, lo que permite a los inquilinos trabajar colectivamente para administrar sus hogares. Debido a que la Vivienda Social no se basa en maximizar las ganancias, las rentas se mantienen asequibles para siempre y esto ayuda a mantener intactos los vecindarios.
Cuando se aprobó la Medida ULA el año pasado, nuestra ciudad desbloqueó cientos de millones de dólares para Vivienda Social. Ahora es el momento de aprovechar la oportunidad. 👏
Last Friday, we thanked our inaugural Social Housing Leadership Cohort for their work this year to guide social housing policy decisions and organizing strategy within the ACT-LA coalition.
The cohort consisted of community members within Los Angeles who trained on speaking about social housing to their neighbors and community networks. They also led working meetings, trainings, and other actions to build understanding and support of ACT-LA`s social housing campaign work. Our work to create social housing in LA is so much stronger thanks to the cohort`s leadership.
Thank you to our 2023 cohort! 🫶
Last Friday, we thanked our inaugural Social Housing Leadership Cohort for their work this year to guide social housing policy decisions and organizing strategy within the ACT-LA coalition.
The cohort consisted of community members within Los Angeles who trained on speaking about social housing to their neighbors and community networks. They also led working meetings, trainings, and other actions to build understanding and support of ACT-LA`s social housing campaign work. Our work to create social housing in LA is so much stronger thanks to the cohort`s leadership.
Thank you to our 2023 cohort! 🫶
Yesterday, community members and ACT-LA coalition members attended the LA Metro Board of Directors meeting to speak out against Metro`s proposed in-house policing department.
Metro, in response to a long history of failed policing contracts, is working to create an in-house police department. The ACT-LA coalition opposes this, and instead calling for deep funding for a range of care-based safety solutions outlined in our Metro as a Sanctuary report that can create feelings of safety and care for all transit riders. Some of these solutions include, but are not limited to:
• Deeply funding social service and mental health outreach workers who outreach on transit,
• Investing more in the successful transit ambassador program,
• Opening bathrooms across Metro stations and stops that are clean, fully accessible, and staffed by bathroom attendants,
• Accurate timetable displays, robust lighting, comfortable seating and shade,
• Fast, reliable, and frequent transit service, and
• Universal fareless transit.
All transit riders—including Black and brown transit riders—deserve to feel safe on transit. That means investing in programs and infrastructure that make transit riders feel welcomed and cared for, not subjecting them to police harassment.
We will continue to advocate against an in-house Metro police department and funding for care-based safety, and will have more updates on how to get involved in the coming year.
Thanks to our coalition members @cpcolectivo and @saje_southla for their leadership in organizing members on this day. And thank you to the students of Claremont College who also worked with us to organize turnout and public comment!
Read more at: act-la.org/metro-as-a-sanctuary
Yesterday, community members and ACT-LA coalition members attended the LA Metro Board of Directors meeting to speak out against Metro`s proposed in-house policing department.
Metro, in response to a long history of failed policing contracts, is working to create an in-house police department. The ACT-LA coalition opposes this, and instead calling for deep funding for a range of care-based safety solutions outlined in our Metro as a Sanctuary report that can create feelings of safety and care for all transit riders. Some of these solutions include, but are not limited to:
• Deeply funding social service and mental health outreach workers who outreach on transit,
• Investing more in the successful transit ambassador program,
• Opening bathrooms across Metro stations and stops that are clean, fully accessible, and staffed by bathroom attendants,
• Accurate timetable displays, robust lighting, comfortable seating and shade,
• Fast, reliable, and frequent transit service, and
• Universal fareless transit.
All transit riders—including Black and brown transit riders—deserve to feel safe on transit. That means investing in programs and infrastructure that make transit riders feel welcomed and cared for, not subjecting them to police harassment.
We will continue to advocate against an in-house Metro police department and funding for care-based safety, and will have more updates on how to get involved in the coming year.
Thanks to our coalition members @cpcolectivo and @saje_southla for their leadership in organizing members on this day. And thank you to the students of Claremont College who also worked with us to organize turnout and public comment!
Read more at: act-la.org/metro-as-a-sanctuary
ACT-LA is a coalition of 45 community-based and nonprofit organizations who are working together to build a Los Angeles where all people have access to quality jobs, affordable housing, necessary social services, ample transportation options, and a voice in decision-making.
The ACT-LA coalition has an exciting year ahead of us—including moving our current work forward, as well as working together to envision the outcomes of our future work through our 2024-2029 strategic plan. To support ACT-LA`s work in 2024, please donate today at act-la.org. #GivingTuesday
ACT-LA is a coalition of 45 community-based and nonprofit organizations who are working together to build a Los Angeles where all people have access to quality jobs, affordable housing, necessary social services, ample transportation options, and a voice in decision-making.
The ACT-LA coalition has an exciting year ahead of us—including moving our current work forward, as well as working together to envision the outcomes of our future work through our 2024-2029 strategic plan. To support ACT-LA`s work in 2024, please donate today at act-la.org. #GivingTuesday
The ACT-LA coalition at work to bring social housing to Los Angeles! We attended the Measure ULA Citizen`s Oversight Committee (COC) November meeting with our member organizations Brilliant Corners, @fctl_2019, and @trust_south_la to advocate for program guidelines that will define what LA City`s social housing and tenant capacity building programs (funded under Measure ULA) will look like.
Thanks to the experts within our member organizations who shared their insights into building social housing, converting existing buildings into social housing, and empowering tenants to run their future social housing buildings.
It`s critical that the Measure ULA COC pass ACT-LA`s program guidelines for social housing and tenant capacity building in order for Los Angeles to have a successful social housing model. We will continue to work to ensure that our vision of social housing becomes realized. More to come!
The ACT-LA coalition at work to bring social housing to Los Angeles! We attended the Measure ULA Citizen`s Oversight Committee (COC) November meeting with our member organizations Brilliant Corners, @fctl_2019, and @trust_south_la to advocate for program guidelines that will define what LA City`s social housing and tenant capacity building programs (funded under Measure ULA) will look like.
Thanks to the experts within our member organizations who shared their insights into building social housing, converting existing buildings into social housing, and empowering tenants to run their future social housing buildings.
It`s critical that the Measure ULA COC pass ACT-LA`s program guidelines for social housing and tenant capacity building in order for Los Angeles to have a successful social housing model. We will continue to work to ensure that our vision of social housing becomes realized. More to come!
"In these social housing communities [in Vienna], tenants’ long-term tenure in their apartments is guaranteed under the law. Apartments can be passed down among generations under the original terms. The tying of rent charged to a percentage of household income means that renters in Vienna are protected from losing their home when illness or job loss occurs.
Given the fact that good housing is central to both a household’s and a city’s well-being, it is no surprise that Vienna is frequently ranked the most livable city in the world."
Read We Should Look to Vienna for Answers to Our Housing Crisis by Fran Quigley for Jacobin at the link in our bio to learn about the successes of Vienna`s social housing model.
The ACT-LA coalition is leading the work to bring social housing—homes that enrich communities instead of corporate landlords—to Los Angeles. You can learn more on our website: act-la.org.
Photo credit: Jon Endow photography
Photo context: ACT-LA rally for #socialhousing in April 2023.
"In these social housing communities [in Vienna], tenants’ long-term tenure in their apartments is guaranteed under the law. Apartments can be passed down among generations under the original terms. The tying of rent charged to a percentage of household income means that renters in Vienna are protected from losing their home when illness or job loss occurs.
Given the fact that good housing is central to both a household’s and a city’s well-being, it is no surprise that Vienna is frequently ranked the most livable city in the world."
Read We Should Look to Vienna for Answers to Our Housing Crisis by Fran Quigley for Jacobin at the link in our bio to learn about the successes of Vienna`s social housing model.
The ACT-LA coalition is leading the work to bring social housing—homes that enrich communities instead of corporate landlords—to Los Angeles. You can learn more on our website: act-la.org.
Photo credit: Jon Endow photography
Photo context: ACT-LA rally for #socialhousing in April 2023.
"The housing affordability crisis in the city of Los Angeles is hitting low-income communities the hardest as many neighborhoods are rapidly being gentrified. For the thousands of unhoused Angelenos and the growing number of residents facing housing instability, fighting to gain or keep a roof over their heads is only getting worse. But this problem is not unsolvable.
The housing and climate crises call on all of us, especially our leaders, to act and address social and racial inequality where life begins—in the home."
Read "Social Housing: Los Angeles`s Chance to Fight the Housing Crisis" from @nrdc_org at the link in our bio, or at https://www.nrdc.org/bio/sarah-elkotbeid/social-housing-angeless-chance-fight-housing-crisis, and learn more about the ACT-LA coalition`s work to bring social housing to Los Angeles.
"The housing affordability crisis in the city of Los Angeles is hitting low-income communities the hardest as many neighborhoods are rapidly being gentrified. For the thousands of unhoused Angelenos and the growing number of residents facing housing instability, fighting to gain or keep a roof over their heads is only getting worse. But this problem is not unsolvable.
The housing and climate crises call on all of us, especially our leaders, to act and address social and racial inequality where life begins—in the home."
Read "Social Housing: Los Angeles`s Chance to Fight the Housing Crisis" from @nrdc_org at the link in our bio, or at https://www.nrdc.org/bio/sarah-elkotbeid/social-housing-angeless-chance-fight-housing-crisis, and learn more about the ACT-LA coalition`s work to bring social housing to Los Angeles.
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