The CA COVID-19 Rent Relief program provides financial assistance for rent and utilities to income-eligible California renters and their landlords who have been impacted by COVID-19. TRUST South LA is a Local Network Partner that has been assisting tenants and landlords ERAP applications.

Since joining the TRUST South LA team in late May, Siris Barrios, Karely De La Cruz, and TRUST South LA staff have been busy making sure that families all over South Central LA have been able to apply to the Emergency Rent Assistance Program (ERAP). Due to their efforts, we have been able to deliver over $89,000 to cover overdue rent, giving working-class families peace of mind.

Starting September 1^st, 2021, we will now be able to offer assistance to help eligible residents of the City of Los Angeles apply for 100% rent and utility relief. To get help, go to www.housingiskey.com and call 833-430-2122 or contact our office at 323-233-4118 to schedule an appointment with our team.

This year, TRUST South LA was invited to join the Our Future LA Coalition to push for SB 679 written by State Senator Sydney Kamlager. This bill would establish the Los Angeles County Affordable Housing Solutions Agency (LACAHSA), a countywide agency dedicated singularly to the protection of tenants, preservation of communities, and production of affordable housing. Due to our advocacy, the Los Angeles City Council recently voted unanimously in support of SB 679 (21-0002-S149). 
 

With LACAHSA, we could raise funds, and streamline affordable housing development; identify housing needs specific to each community, and deploy resources to address those needs. For TRUST South LA, this is an opportunity for us to share our groundbreaking work and show communities across the county that community ownership and permanently affordable housing are not only possible but already happening all over LA County. Now with local leadership in support, it is up to our State Assembly members and Senators to pass SB 679 and send the bill to Governor Newsom’s desk.

To stay up to date and learn how to help, please visit www.our future.la.

    
On August 10^th, the LA County Board of Supervisors voted unanimously to advance a motion authored by Chair Hilda Solis and co-authored by Supervisor Sheila Kuehl that would advance the development of a countywide Tenant Opportunity To Purchase Act (TOPA). This is a huge victory for T.RU.S.T. South L.A. and our LA CLT Coalition partners: Beverly-Vermont CLT, El Sereno CLT, Fideicomiso Comunitario Tierra Libre, and Liberty CLT.

TOPA is a powerful, common-sense policy that would empower tenants with the opportunity to purchase the building they live in once the owner of that building decides to sell. This policy is key to helping us stabilize rapidly gentrifying neighborhoods, prevent the displacement of our low-income neighbors, and create pathways to home ownership for people who have been historically locked out of wealth-building opportunities.

Next up for TOPA is a 90-day research and development period where the county departments will convene a working group where the LA CLT Coalition members will play a pivotal role in shaping the policy and make recommendations to the Board of Supervisors. You can learn more about TOPA here, support TOPA here, and read more about the motion here.