COVID-19 PANDEMIC: On the ground, in the community
When LA's "Safe-at-Home" order changed the lives of Angelenos almost overnight, David demonstrated what leadership can – and must – do in time of crisis. He has been on the ground, in the community, connecting people to resources. He introduced programs and legislation to ease the pandemic's impact on the City's most vulnerable, allocating additional resources to seniors, immigrants, single mothers, renters, and artists. He brought the City and County together to make free COVID-19 testing available and secured PPE (protective gear) to keep essential workers safe. He has called on Congress to support rent cancellation legislation, and to immediately implement improvements to the SNAP program (formerly "food stamps") due to the dramatic increase in food insecurity caused by COVID-19. He has also been an outspoken critic of the White House's incitement of hate crimes, dissemination of unscientific information, and reluctance to put the financial security of the American people ahead of Wall Street.
While local government agencies have reimagined how to respond rapidly to the new needs of our new normal, so have others. Many local organizations and individuals have stepped up to ensure that residents, small businesses and non-profits are supported. And our Council District 4 community has come together to help friends and neighbors navigate the pandemic.
COVID-19 RESOURCES
For CORONAVIRUS UPDATES, click here
FOR RENTERS:
Payment of rent and eviction moratorium:
As of March 27, 2020, California renters impacted by the pandemic cannot be evicted for nonpayment of rent through at least May 31, 2020. Tenants must declare in writing that they cannot pay all or part of their rent due to COVID-19 within 7 days of the rent due date. For a sample landlord-tenant communication letter, contact:
Los Angeles renters will have up to twelve months following the expiration of the local emergency period to repay any back due rent. Tenants are not required to sign any new agreements with their landlord. They may work out a payment plan at this time only if they choose to and are NOT required to provide their landlords any documentation proving their inability to pay rent at this time. Tenants are recommended to keep this documentation for their own records.
More information at: HCID Eviction Information - hcidla2.lacity.org/covid-19-renter-protections
Sample tenant-landlord communication form can be found here in English, Spanish, Korean, Armenian, Chinese, Russian and Tagalog.
Rent freeze on Rent-Stabilized units:
As of March 30, 2020, there is a freeze on rent increases on residential units that are subject to the City's Rent Stabilization Ordinance (RSO), otherwise known as rent control. RSO generally applies to multi-family complexes built before 1978. To find out if your apartment is covered by the ordinance, go to: hcidla.lacity.org/Is-My-Rental-Unit-Subject-to-the-RSO
Legal & Eviction Defense Resources
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Bet Tzedek Legal Services - bettzedek.org - (323) 939 - 0506
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Coalition for Economic Survival - cesinaction.org - (213) 252 - 4411
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Housing Rights Center of Los Angeles - housingrightscenter.org - (800) 477- 5977
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Legal Aid Foundation of Los Angeles - lafla.org - (800) 399 - 4529
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Neighborhood Legal Services of Los Angeles County - nlsla.org - (800) 433 - 6251
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HCID LA - hcidla.lacity.org - (866) 557-7368 (file an eviction complaint with the City)
UTILITY SHUT OFFS:
Effective March 23, 2020:, there is a moratorium on DWP shutoffs. If your utilities were shut-off, call 877-MYPAYDWP
FOR UNEMPLOYMENT ASSISTANCE OR REDUCED WORK HOURS BECAUSE OF THE PANDEMIC:
Unemployment Insurance: California’s Employment Development Department
Unemployment for freelance and gig workers
FOR SENIORS:
Supermarkets offer early hours so that seniors do not have to wait in line. For the homebound, meal delivery is offered by the following organizations.
Department of Aging - aging.lacity.org or (213) 482 - 7252
Project Angel Food – for meal delivery, click here or call (323) 845 -1810.
Meals on Wheels: (888) 998 - 6325
Zoomers to Boomers: A team of young people looking to help the community during COVID-19 and deliver groceries to those who are elderly or immunocompromised.
Email: zoomerstoboomersla@gmail.com
Website or call (323) 364-5878
Additional resources for seniors here
ACCESS TO FOOD:
Calfresh food benefits may be used to purchase groceries online at select retailers. Learn more here.
ASSISTANCE FOR IMMIGRANTS AND UNDOCUMENTED RESIDENTS:
Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights (CHIRLA) - irelief.chirla.org - (213) 201- 8700 or (888) 624 - 4752
Asian Americans Advancing Justice, LA - advancingjustice-la.org/drai - (213) 241 - 8880
Central American Resource Center (CARECEN) - carecen-la.org/drai - (213) 315 - 2659
Judy Wood, Attorney - lawofficesofjudithlwood.com - (213) 680-7801 or (323) 683-5166
Vamos Unidos (Juan Jose) - vamosunidos.net - (213) 746 - 6264
Immigrant Neighbor Fund (East-West Bank) - immigrantneighborfund.com
Yo Soy California - yosoycalifornia.chirla.org
Medi-Nurse Hotline for Medi-Cal patients & uninsured - (877) 409 - 9052
Apply for the Immigrant Families Fund - missionassetfund.org/immigrant-families-grant
SMALL BUSINESSES:
City of Los Angeles Microloan Program: ewddlacity.com/index.php/microloan-program
SBA Disaster Assistance: sba.gov/disaster-assistance/coronavirus-covid-19
Get help applying for loans: lacountyhelpcenter.org; (833) 238 - 4450; disasterhelpcenter@lacounty.gov
LA Small Business Resilience Toolkit- ewddlacity.com/images/business/COVID19_BusinessResilienceToolkit_v4.pdf
Guidance for reopening - corona-virus.la/Business
Jewish Free Loan Association - jfla.org
Restaurants: Apply to join LA City's Great Plates Delivered Program - wdacs.lacounty.gov/greatplates
Moratorium on commercial evictions - corona-virus.la/english/mayor-garcetti-orders-moratorium-commercial-evictions