FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
APRIL 19, 2023
CONTACT:
Alison Vu, (562) 265-8031, avu@act-la.org
RENTERS RALLY ON RENTER’S DAY TO DEMAND SOCIAL HOUSING IN LA CITY
WITH MOUNTING HOUSING PRESSURES, RENTERS CALL FOR PERMANENT HOUSING SOLUTIONS THAT DO NOT ENRICH CORPORATE LANDLORDS
Los Angeles, CA–Renters and housing advocates covered the south lawn of the Los Angeles City Hall today with signs and bullhorns, chanting and demanding that the City Council take bold action to address the housing affordability crisis by creating social housing in the city.
“We see and live through the consequences of real estate corporations controlling Los Angeles’ housing market everyday,” said Eva Garcia and renter leader in Los Angeles. “Homes are so unaffordable that so many people have given up being able to afford a permanent home. And for the majority who have to rent, they face the daily struggle of worrying about being pushed out of their homes, or rents increasing and suddenly being unable to afford their home. And this all feeds into our homelessness crisis.”
Social housing, a housing solution proven to be effective internationally, creates homes that enrich communities instead of corporate landlords. Social housing can provide tenants with a pathway to homeownership by making payments they can afford over a reasonable period of time. It’s an option to earn equity in property that many LA residents have never had due to disenfranchisement, discrimination, and redlining.
“Angelenos across the city worked tirelessly to pass Measure ULA last November to create permanent housing solutions, including funding for social housing,” said Carla De Paz, an organizer with the organization Community Power Collective. “But until our elected leaders take action, it will remain an unfulfilled vision rather than an opportunity for housing to enrich our communities. We say enough to housing only benefitting corporate landlords. We must push our city council to make Social Housing a reality.”
Run by nonprofits and residents, social housing is designed so that the rents stay affordable forever while also providing tenants the training and authority to manage their own buildings. It works by providing city-owned land or leasing existing buildings to community-led organizations to develop and manage housing directly—all benefiting local renters and residents in need of stable homes.
“We, like the majority of those across Los Angeles, want to see housing affordability and homelessness crisis addressed immediately,” said Roberto Garcia-Ceballos, the co-director of Fideicomiso Comunitario Tierra Libre, a Boyle Heights and East Los Angeles Community Land Trust that has taken land and housing from corporate interests and created community-controlled housing options. “But that means investing in permanent housing solutions outside of corporate control, so that residents can work together—instead of depending on corporate landlords whose only goal is maximizing profit.”
###
ABOUT THE ALLIANCE FOR COMMUNITY TRANSIT-LOS ANGELES (ACT-LA):
The Alliance for Community Transit-Los Angeles (ACT-LA) is a coalition of 43 organizations fighting for housing and transit justice in Los Angeles County. Our coalition 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. Learn more at: www.act-la.org