Attorneys and housing advocates who are part of Los Angeles County’s Stay Housed LA program Friday celebrated five years of providing eviction defense and educating tenants on their rights.
In 2020, L.A. County launched the program in partnership with the city of Los Angeles, which is administered by a coalition of 12 legal aid providers and 17 community-based organizations. The initiative provides tenants across the region from Lancaster to Long Beach with information and resources to keep people in their homes.
The program has supported more than 33,000 tenants with legal services, represented some 11,000 tenants in court, and educated more than 2.3 million renters in the county about their rights through workshops, phone calls, texts and door-to-door outreach, according to officials.
Renters can look up their address to find out what legal protections are available in their city and register for workshops that are held multiple times per week. Tenants with incomes at 80% of median income or less can apply for free legal representation through a hotline or the Stay Housed LA website.
The county and city of Los Angeles expanded access to a right to counsel for renters this past year.
At the start of 2025, the right to counsel for renters in the unincorporated areas of the county took effect. In August, the city finalized a right to counsel ordinance, joining the county, and other cities such as New York and San Francisco, which is expected to be fully implemented by 2030 and funded by Measure ULA.
“Stay Housed LA creates a real system change and shifts the power balance that’s always been in favor of landlords,” Barbara Schultz, director of Stay Housed LA and housing justice director of the Legal Aid Foundation of Los Angeles, said in a statement.
“This program delivers justice to some of our most vulnerable neighbors — especially seniors, people with disabilities and people of color who have been most impacted by decades of systemic racism,” Schultz added.
Stay Housed LA officials warned that funding for eviction defense and homelessness prevention initiatives may be reduced in the coming year due to less funding at the local, state and federal levels.
“In eviction court in L.A., a recent report showed 92% of landlords had attorneys, compared to 14% of tenants, putting renters at an unfair disadvantage that too many landlords exploit,” Catalina Romo, senior director of external affairs for Strategic Actions for A just Economy, and co-program manager of Stay Housed LA, said in a statement. “Stay Housed LA offers tenants a proven model that integrates legal services and community engagement to shift that balance.”
Previously, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development announced a shift in funding priorities, focusing on transitional housing versus permanent housing. The policy change aims to bolster what is known as “wraparound services” such as mental health and substance abuse treatment, as well as temporary housing for up to two years.
Critics of this change say it could lead to more homelessness as funding for permanent housing initiatives such as rental subsidies will receive less.
Meanwhile at the local level, the new Los Angeles County Affordable Housing Agency, known as LACAHSA, released a proposed spending plan for Measure A funding, a half-cent sales tax for local homeless services and new affordable housing initiatives. The tax is anticipated to raise about $1.1 billion a year for the county.
The measure approved in 2024, replaced Measure H, a quarter-cent sales tax for homelessness programs. About a third of Measure A funding will be overseen by LACAHSA.
The entity is governed by a 21-member board, focusing on building more affordable housing, preserving existing affordable units and preventing homelessness. It is designed to enhance collaboration across all 88 cities in the county to create coordinated strategy for housing solutions, leveraging new financing tools and best practices for housing stability.
In August, the agency released revised guidelines for renter protection and homeless prevention funding, mandating 20% of an eligible jurisdiction’s funds to be allocated for legal services.
The council of governments representing the Gateway Cities, San Gabriel Valley and South Bay Cities issued a letter that same month “strongly” opposing any requirements for funding floors in the guidelines, opting for flexibility in their respective areas to address homelessness.
The three COGs sought to fund interventions that are “most impactful” and “cost-effective” in meeting the goals of Measure A.
“LACAHSA does not have sufficient existing data to evaluate and determine what those interventions are so it is premature for LACAHSA to include any funding floors for specific programs,” according to the letter.
“Measure A resources should not lock in existing programs, they must be focused on implementing the best programs,” the letter continued. “LACAHSA has a unique opportunity to work with eligible jurisdictions to help identify and shape the most effective programs in this new climate.”
LACAHSA announced a notice of funding availability last week, and potential bids for Measure A dollars are expected due by Jan. 23 at 5 p.m.
At the city level, the contract to continue funding for Stay Housed LA has been mired in delays and questioning by City Attorney Hydee Feldstein Soto, who raised concerns about the bidding process. L.A. Housing Department officials have stated the process as a sole-source contract was fine.
In October, the Los Angeles City Council approved additional funding for a contract with the Legal Aid Foundation of Los Angeles, the lead contractor for Stay Housed L.A. The funding covers eviction defense, rental assistance and other programs through March.
The deadline for proposals for the new contract is due Dec. 31.
“Funding continuity means service continuity, and without it, lawyers can’t be hired and organizations have to choose between representing the clients who need it most and taking financial risks that could threaten their existence,” Shultz said in a statement.
Tenants facing eviction can learn about their rights and take action by contacting Stay Housed LA at www.stayhousedla.org or calling 888-694-0040.