Rent Relief, Eviction Moratorium Extended In L.A. County

LOS ANGELES, CA — As the effects of the pandemic continue to escalate across the county, the Board of Supervisors voted unanimously to extend the local rent relief program through December 31. Supervisor Hilda Solis, who co-authored the motion with Janice Hahn, said the new changes will expand eligibility to more tenants who are in need of help.

"Since the program launched, many constituents have reached out to my office pleading for help as landlords refuse to receive direct payments from the Los Angeles County Development Authority, locking renters out of the program," Solis said. "In other cases, out of desperation, tenants have chosen to pay rent by taking out loans from predatory lenders or using credit cards despite them being eligible for rental assistance."

Such tenants would no longer be prohibited from receiving help. Additionally, the ceiling on available assistance would be raised from $7,500 to $10,000 for eligible households making up to 50% of the average median income.

The news comes as county officials anticipate receiving a significant portion of the $25 billion in federal rent relief set aside in the recently passed stimulus package. With additional relief on the way, L.A. County will make direct payments to property owners to supplement partial payments made earlier. According to the motion, about 70% of qualified households received partial assistance.

In a separate motion, the Board of Supervisors also agreed to extend the current eviction moratorium until February 28.

"No one should be threatened with eviction or made homeless because of the pandemic," Kuehl said. "Some unscrupulous property owners have been harassing renters ... through physical intimidation, rent hikes, removal of security gates and lights, and threats of eviction."

An eviction defense attorney for Public Counsel told the board there has been an "enormous uptick" in illegal harassment by landlords. She shared the story of a client whose landlord called child welfare officials on her, reporting unhealthy conditions that Tannenbaum said were due to the landlord's neglect. The woman is now living in her car.

"We must recognize that an eviction can be a death sentence," Amy Tannenbaum said. "Housing is a human right, and landlords' hunger for profit cannot take precedence over Angelenos' need for stable housing during this critical juncture."

City News Service contributed to this report.