On Thursday, May 25, more than 100 attendees joined DCBA for our first-ever Los Angeles Tenant Protections Policy Summit at UCLA.
With keynote addresses from 3rd District Supervisor Lindsey P. Horvath and 55th District Assembly Member Isaac Bryan, the convening brought together elected officials, housing and policy staff, and representatives from municipalities throughout Southern California. The Summit provided an excellent opportunity to network with subject matter experts, discuss current and historical policy efforts related to tenant protections, and showcase their benefits upon communities and local municipalities.
Along with our partners from Stay Housed LA, Liberty Hill, the Legal Aid Foundation of Los Angeles, and UCLA, our attendees – including the Mayors of Burbank and San Fernando – took a deep dive into what was learned about implementing effective tenant protections during the COVID-19 global health crisis. Moreover, we learned about the intersectional nature of housing and how tenant protections – and the lack thereof – play a direct role in the health and life outcomes of entire communities. Representatives from the Los Angeles Housing Department and the cities of West Hollywood and Santa Monica discussed best practices learned from their experiences, such as the benefits of codifying permanent tenant protections in lieu of extending temporary ordinances that may change frequently.
The highlight of the afternoon was our own Dana Pratt, DCBA’s Deputy Director of Housing and Tenant Protections, previewing our new Tenant Protections Toolkit, which will assist local jurisdictions in developing their own regulations and programs. Attendees left the summit feeling informed and empowered to help protect tenants in their respective communities.
For more information about Housing and Tenant Protections and resources available to assist tenants, rental property owners, and landlords in LA County, visit rent.lacounty.gov.
