california rural legal assistance, inc.web sites... · 2/25/2019 · housing/habitability – fair...
Post on 23-Sep-2020
2 Views
Preview:
TRANSCRIPT
California Rural Legal Assistance, Inc.
www.crla.org February 25, 2019
California Healthy Housing Coalition
Who is CRLA?
⚫ CRLA is a non-profit law firm founded in 1966
⚫ CRLA provides legal services at no cost to
qualifying low-income individuals residing in
over 20 California counties, including
Stanislaus County
⚫ CRLA’s mission is to fight for justice and
individual rights alongside the most
exploited communities in our society
Our Work
⚫ Our office conducts advocacy, litigation,
outreach and legal education on the most
pressing issues facing low income
communities:
– Education
– Employment
– Health and Human well being
– Housing
– LGBT Rights
Housing
⚫ We provide education, advocacy, and litigation services to tenants facing various issues including:
– Evictions
– Sub-standard housing/Habitability
– Fair housing/Housing discrimination
– Foreclosure of rental properties
Housing
⚫ Priority Areas:– Tenants in subsidized housing
– Mobilehome/RV park residents
– Employer-provided housing
– Residential hotels
– Tenants in foreclosed properties
– Some fair housing issues
⚫ All Other Issues– Workshops
– Self-help packets
Community Equity Initiative
⚫ CEI works with
unincorporated
communities to address:
– Lack of clean drinking water
– Sewer systems
– Safe parks and roads
– Public transportation
– Leadership development
– Housing Element advocacy
Stanislaus CountyWhere is it?
Stanislaus CountyBy the (estimated) numbers
⚫ 547,000 people in the county
– vs. 10 million in LA county
⚫ 214,000 people in Modesto
– vs. 4 million in the city of Los Angeles
⚫ 16% of the population below the poverty line
– vs. 17.9% in Los Angeles county
Stanislaus County“A rural area with urban problems”
Stanislaus County“A rural area with urban problems”
Common Habitability Issues
Common Habitability Issues
Common Habitability Issues
Common Habitability Issues
Common Habitability Issues
Tenant Protections in Modesto
⚫ Landlord cannot retaliate within 180 days of
protected action by tenant (statewide rule)
⚫ No good cause requirement to evict (except
certain subsidized housing)
– vs. LA—must have good cause to evict if
protected by the RSO
⚫ Theoretical relocation benefits up to 2x fair
market rent
– vs. $20,000 in LA for RSO properties
Tenant Options:Repair and Deduct
⚫ Tenant must do the work themselves or hire
others to do work
⚫ Must give reasonable notice to landlord
⚫ Repair must cost no more than one month’s
rent
Tenant Options: Withhold Rent
⚫ Tenant acting on own—very risky
– vs. LA’s Rent Escrow Account Program (REAP)
⚫ Tenant ideally should give notice to landlord
⚫ Landlord files eviction
⚫ Court decides how much property is worth
⚫ If tenant wins, tenant must pay any extra
amount withheld within 5 days
⚫ If tenant loses, tenant is evicted
Tenant Options: Code Enforcement Complaint
⚫ Risk of being red tagged
– Process differs by jurisdiction
⚫ Risk of landlord retaliation
Tenant Options: Small Claims
⚫ Neither side can have attorney in court
⚫ $10,000 limit
⚫ Must collect judgment
⚫ No injunctive relief
– Court cannot order repairs
Tenant Options: Affirmative Litigation
⚫ Can ask for injunctive relief
⚫ Can ask for property to be managed by a
receiver
⚫ Can take 1-5 years (or more)
⚫ Very difficult to do without an attorney
What can advocates do?
⚫ Tenant organizing
⚫ Legislative advocacy
⚫ Coordinate with other agencies
⚫ Help document
Contact Information
Jessica M. Jewell
Regional Director of Advocacy
Modesto Directing Attorney
(209) 577-3811
California Rural Legal Assistance, Inc.
1111 I Street, Suite 310
Modesto, CA 95354
top related