I experienced discrimination in housing because of my family size and my daughter's and my own disability. I also had problems with mold in my apartment that the landlord didn't want to take care of. Tenant Organizing is important because people need to know what their rights are and to learn how to keep their housing. Through my circumstances I learned how to fight back and educate my neighbors to defend their rights and go to the right agencies before they lose their housing.
This past Fall I was looking for a place in San Francisco with a couple friends of mine. We were looking for something affordable, but all had steady jobs and so were fairly flexible in how much we could pay. Plus we were looking for a place with two or three bedrooms knowing we were going to have to most-likely bring in other housemates besides the three of us.
You will all love this!
My boyfriend and I moved into the apartment on Doheny 10 years ago. Within 8 months of being there, problems started to arise. First with plumbing, then electricity and we even were hassled for planting a beautiful garden in the back yard (which was previously a heap of garbage)
We chose the apartment because the rent was insanely cheap and it is in an incredible location; hardwood floors, huge and built in the mid 40’s.
I am a financial aid student attending UCLA full time and believe me it is tough to save enough money to pay rent every month...not to mention I must also save enough money to pay for food, utilities, books, gasoline, etc. etc BUT on top of trying to save money I must also go to school full time, and work part time which makes it difficult to earn enough when rent is due. In Los Angeles, more specifically Westwood, rent is not cheap. For a two bedroom/two bath apartment prices range from $2300 and up.
Inland Counties Legal Services, Inc. pursues justice and equality for low-income people through counsel, advice, advocacy, and community education, treating all with dignity and respect.
The Legal Aid Society of San Mateo County’s vision is for every person to have the basic necessities of life, including safe affordable housing, access to health care, economic security, secure immigration status, an appropriate education, and freedom from violence and abuse.
Tenant Rights Clinics:
Inquilinos Unidos (United Tenants) empowers low-income Los Angeles tenants through community organizing, education and advocacy. We also work on legislative efforts, tenant rights training and strategy planning, and class action or taxpayer lawsuits to address the most egregious housing violations.
IU offers Tenant Resource Clinics at its office on Mondays from 4:00 to 6:30 pm, as well as walk-in services on Wednesday and Friday from 9:30 am to 12:30 pm. Tenants may also call the IU office and leave a message for call-back assistance.
updated 07/19_FC
My landlord continues to use the bottom floor of our apartment, illegally converted into a separate unit, as a party space. They are drunk and loud and have ruined our garden in the back yard. They forget to pay the electricity on a regular basis. We have already had our power shut off once because of this, and on several times only avoided a shut off because one of us happened to be home. Whenever we call them on their unprofessional and lax behavior, they become vicious and threatening.
Legal Aid Foundation of Los Angeles is a nonprofit law firm that protects and advances the rights of the most underserved in several areas.
1) Eviction Defense -- We offer eligible clients the following services: Counsel and advice regarding housing issues, regardless whether an eviction is pending; Preparing answers to evictions; Preparing tenants for trial when representing themselves; Representing tenants in court
LSNC is a federal, state and local-funded legal services program providing civil representation to low-income clients in 23 counties in Northern California.
Housing priorities address: Assisting clients with the creation and preservation of low-income housing, tenants rights, evictions and lock outs, foreclosures, quality of housing, mobile homes, mitigation of homelessness, termination of utilities, unsafe housing, and lost of shelter because of natural disasters.
Contact your local LSNC office for more information about our services available in your area: