LOS ANGELES — Mayor Karen Bass, City Attorney Hydee Feldstein Soto and the Los Angeles Housing Department (LAHD) today applauded the decision dismissing the Measure ULA lawsuit initiated by property owners and anti-tax groups seeking to invalidate the Measure which is being used in efforts to prevent homelessness and fund additional affordable housing in Los Angeles.
“In order to truly address the homelessness crisis we must also prevent people from falling into homelessness in the first place,” said Mayor Karen Bass. “With the ongoing lawsuit, we had to be conservative with the dollars but more importantly, we knew we could not wait to start providing Angelenos with the much needed rent relief that accumulated during the COVID-19 pandemic. I want to thank City Attorney Feldstein Soto and the Los Angeles Housing department for their work to navigate this lawsuit, and the City Council for entrusting us to use these important dollars as we continue to confront the homelessness crisis in Los Angeles.”
“I am pleased that the will of Los Angeles voters has been upheld and that much needed dollars will continue to fund affordable housing projects and initiatives aimed at preventing homelessness,” said LA City Attorney Feldstein Soto.
“Measure ULA provides us with an extraordinary opportunity to tackle the joint existential crises of housing insecurity and homelessness by generating more affordable housing and preventing people from losing their housing," said Ann Sewill, General Manager of the Los Angeles Housing Department. "We appreciate the Court honoring the will of the people of Los Angeles who have made clear their desire to support their most vulnerable fellow Angelenos at this critical time.”
In August, the City Council approved the FY23/24 Measure ULA Expenditure Plan, which includes:
$18,400,000 for a Short-Term Emergency Assistance Program that will allow eligible low-income tenant households to apply for up to six months owed back rent due to a one time economic hardship. On October 31 Council is expected to approve an additional $12,000,000 for this program, to be shifted from the rental assistance for low income seniors program. The emergency rental assistance prioritizes lower income households, seniors and those with disabilities.
$23,000,000 for the Eviction Defense/Prevention Program, to continue and expand the Stay Housed LA (SHLA) program, a partnership with the County, legal service providers and community organizations, that provides tenant households at risk of eviction, with legal support, “know your rights” education, and in limited cases, rental assistance through settlements with their landlords or housing provider.
$5,520,000 for a tenant outreach and education program and campaign to provide broad and targeted tenant education outreach services, including workshops, legal clinics, paid and earned media and targeted social media.
$11,219,694 for the Protections from Tenant Harassment Program. Funds will be allocated for infrastructure, technology, and community outreach, to educate tenants, as well as landlords and housing providers, about their rights and obligations, and to enforce protections against tenant harassment. The City adopted the Tenant Anti-Harassment Ordinance (TAHO) to protect tenants from harassment by landlords and housing providers.
$56,860,306 for development of multifamily affordable housing to increase affordable housing units in the City with an initiative called “Accelerator Plus.” The program will fund “shovel-ready” affordable housing projects that are ready to quickly start or complete construction.