Activism
Attorney General Rob Bonta Takes Action Protecting Renters From Unlawful Evictions
“California’s families are facing a housing affordability crisis at levels we have never seen before,” said California Attorney General Rob Bonta. “About 1 in 7 renters in California are behind on their rent potentially facing eviction. With the state’s last remaining eviction moratorium expiring just a few days ago, the threat of eviction is here.”
![California Attorney General Rob Bonta also encouraged individuals with reports of landlord’s attempting an illegal eviction to send a complaint via email to housing@doj.ca.gov](https://www.postnewsgroup.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/eviction-protection-featured-web.jpg)
By Edward Henderson, California Black Media
On Wednesday, July 13, Attorney General Rob Bonta hosted a virtual press conference to announce new directives to help protect tenants against unlawful eviction from their landlords.
“California’s families are facing a housing affordability crisis at levels we have never seen before,” said Bonta. “About 1 in 7 renters in California are behind on their rent potentially facing eviction. With the state’s last remaining eviction moratorium expiring just a few days ago, the threat of eviction is here.”
The Department of Justice’s (DOJ) Housing Strikeforce has received numerous reports of landlords conducting unlawful lockouts and “self-help evictions.”
These evictions include changing locks without a court order, shutting off water or electricity, or removing a tenant’s personal property to force them to leave their homes. Landlords are resorting to these tactics to avoid having to appear in court.
In response to these reports, Bonta issued the new legal bulletin to law enforcement agencies across the state to prevent and respond to unlawful lockouts and self-help evictions.
“While landlords may be frustrated, they have a responsibility to go through proper proceedings if eviction is the necessary next step.
“Let me be clear: That means filing a case in court. You cannot change the locks, shut off power, or remove personal property in order to force a tenant out of their home. These so-called self-help evictions are unlawful. Full stop. And you may be held civilly or criminally liable.
“Today’s guidance underlines law enforcement’s important role in responding to reports of illegal evictions and their responsibility to intervene to enforce the law and stop self-help evictions when they see them,” Bonta said.
AB 1482 (“the California Tenant Protection Act of 2019”) prohibits landlords from evicting most tenants without “just cause.”
According to the law, there are two kinds of evictions: “at fault” evictions and “no fault” evictions. At fault evictions include failure to pay rent, criminal activity on the premises, and refusal to allow lawful entry. No fault evictions include owner move-in, remodeling that requires permits and will take more than 30 days, and intent to demolish the unit.
Bonta’s new guidance for law enforcement called to a dispute between a landlord and tenant dictates the following:
- Law enforcement should never help a landlord evict a tenant by force or by threats.
- Only the sheriff or marshal or their deputies may evict a tenant and only with a court order. Other peace officers should not ask the tenant to leave their home.
- Law enforcement should advise the landlord or other persons involved that it is a misdemeanor to force tenants out of a rental property and should instruct them to allow the tenant back into the home.
- Law enforcement should advise the landlord to seek legal advice if they have an issue with a tenant.
- Law enforcement should write a report about the incident even if no arrest is made.
“For our part at DOJ, as long as the housing affordability, availability and equity crisis is here, we’re going to keep on pushing forward,” said Bonta. “Every Californian deserves to have a roof over their head, and I’m committed to using all the tools of my office to advance Californian’s housing rights.”
Jessica Jewell, Deputy Director at California Rural Legal Assistance, Inc (CRLA) also spoke at the virtual press conference to support the DOJ’s efforts and provide helpful information to tenants who have experienced unlawful evictions. The CRLA is a non-profit organization providing legal services with a focus on housing, employment, education and rural income issues.
“Today we applaud the attorney general’s office for the action they have taken and the guidance they have issued today,” said Jewell. “While the unlawful detainer process provides tenants some protection, the process can also be intimidating and inaccessible, especially for low-income tenants who cannot afford to hire a private attorney when often landlords have strong legal representation.”
Tenants looking for representation or more information about their rights and protections when it comes to evictions can visit lawhelpca.org or crla.org.
Bonta also encouraged individuals with reports of landlord’s attempting an illegal eviction to send a complaint via email to housing@doj.ca.gov
A copy of the guidance bulletin can be found at here or at https://oag.ca.gov/system/files/media/2022-dle-05.pdf
Activism
Oakland Post: Week of June 12-18, 2024
The printed Weekly Edition of the Oakland Post: Week of June 12-18, 2024
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Activism
ICAC Invites Community to Benefit from Safe Car Park Program
The Interfaith Council of Alameda County (ICAC) will hold a meeting to announce a faith-based expansion of overnight safe car parking for unhoused families on Thursday, June 13, 2024, from 1-2 p.m. at Williams Chapel Baptist Church located at 1410 10th Avenue in Oakland. The ICAC President, Rev. Ken Chambers, announced that Williams Chapel, pastored by Rev. Kenneth Anderson, and members of ICAC, has also planned to open an overnight safe car parking program and day center to provide unhoused neighbors and families with wrap-around services.
![Chambers said, "ICAC's goal is to just serve Oakland by helping to make the community surrounding 10th Avenue and International Boulevard both welcoming and safe."](https://www.postnewsgroup.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/ICAC-homelessness-featured-web.jpg)
by Post Staff
The Interfaith Council of Alameda County (ICAC) will hold a meeting to announce a faith-based expansion of overnight safe car parking for unhoused families on Thursday, June 13, 2024, from 1-2 p.m. at Williams Chapel Baptist Church located at 1410 10th Avenue in Oakland.
The ICAC President, Rev. Ken Chambers, announced that Williams Chapel, pastored by Rev. Kenneth Anderson, and members of ICAC, has also planned to open an overnight safe car parking program and day center to provide unhoused neighbors and families with wrap-around services.
Rev. Chambers said additional support for the program will also come from Bishop Bob Jackson, Pastor of Acts Full Gospel Church and Pastor Phyllis Scott, head of the Oakland Police Chaplaincy Program.
Chambers said, “ICAC’s goal is to just serve Oakland by helping to make the community surrounding 10th Avenue and International Boulevard both welcoming and safe.”
David Longhurst, a member of Oakland Temple LDS Church and an ICAC board member, said
“We can make the city of Oakland safer, one block at a time, by connecting our community and neighbors.”
Chambers said ICAC has a $450,000 grant commitment from the City of Oakland and a $2.5M grant request has been presented to Nate Miley, President of the Alameda County Board of Supervisors President Nate Miley to cover and expand ICAC’s Safe Car Park Program located at West Side Missionary Baptist Church to additional locations including Center Street Baptist Church, Taylor Memorial United Methodist Church, Corinthians Baptist Church, Allen Temple Baptist Church, Acts Full Gospel Church, and other congregations.
Dr. Ken Chambers said he and ICAC are assisting congregations on how to receive a one-time $5,000 grant. “ICAC has plans for several tiny homes with kitchens, living space and bathrooms that we hope will become available this fall in partnership with the State, County and City of Oakland.”
Chambers is appealing to the public to help with transitioning the unhoused populations into tiny homes or affordable housing. “If you or anyone you know is living out of a car and needs a safe place to park overnight, visit interfaithAC.org, call 510-239-6681, or stop by the ICAC hub at 732 Willow Street, Oakland, CA 94607 between the hours of 7 p.m. – 9 p.m.”
Activism
Calif. Leaders Discuss Foster Care Reform Strategies for Black and Brown Youth
Before becoming a nationally recognized social justice leader and a member of California’s Mandated Reporting Taskforce, Shane Harris spent 13 years as a foster care youth after he lost both of his parents. As President of the national civil rights organization, People’s Association of Justice Advocates (PAJA), he’s aiming to solve some of the toughest challenges Black and Brown children in the foster care system face.
![Shane Harris, PAJA President and member of the California Mandated Reporting Taskforce (center) with Hafsa Kaka, Senior Advisor on Homelessness to Governor Gavin Newsom and Dr. Janet Kelly, Founder & Director of Sanctuary of Hope LA (far right) (Lila Brown CBM)](https://www.postnewsgroup.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/fostercare-reform-featured-web.jpg)
By Lila Brown, California Black Media
Before becoming a nationally recognized social justice leader and a member of California’s Mandated Reporting Taskforce, Shane Harris spent 13 years as a foster care youth after he lost both of his parents. As President of the national civil rights organization, People’s Association of Justice Advocates (PAJA), he’s aiming to solve some of the toughest challenges Black and Brown children in the foster care system face.
During National Foster Care Month in May, Harris visited the Sanctuary of Hope in Los Angeles to host a roundtable meeting with current and former foster youth, many of whom, like Harris, have beat the odds and become successful professionals.
According to the federal government’s Adoption and Foster Care Analysis and Reporting System, there are nearly 370,000 American children and youth in foster care.
Nationally, Black children are overrepresented in foster care. According to datacenter.kidscount.org, Black children represented 14% of the total child population in the United States. However, they represented 23% of all children in foster care. Harris pointed out that one out of every four foster youth go homeless upon exiting foster care in California. Across the state, there are nearly 65,000 children in foster care, he added. Of the 65,000 children in foster care across California, 14,000 of them are Black American.
Harris also announced a new effort already underway to push for the removal of the term “case” in L.A. County when referring to foster youth during the roundtable which featured Hafsa Kaka, Senior Advisor to Gov. Gavin Newsom and Janet Kelly, the Founder and Director of Sanctuary of Hope. The session focused on solving problems foster youth face.
Sharing personal stories, insights, and various visions for policy changes, the participants discussed numerous solutions and addressed specific concerns about ongoing challenges with the foster care system.
One top priority was how to close the foster care to homelessness pipeline for the disproportionate number of Black and Brown children in LA County’s and the state’s foster care system.
“When you see the direct connection between the disproportionate rates of Black children in foster care and the disproportionate rates of Black people in the general homeless population, there is a very clear connection there in which our foster youth are coming out of care,” stated Harris during opening remarks.
Kaka said the governor has been intentional about making sure that foster children are homeless prioritized as the state addresses homelessness.
“This is a critical moment for foster care,” said Kaka. “The systems that are working together are looking at leveraging federal, state and local funds.”
Harris said he has already begun efforts in San Diego County to drop the word “case” when referring to homeless youth.
“We are asking for a 90-day public input period, in which the county CEO and leadership can facilitate discussions with the community on replacement terminology. There’s plenty of ideas,” Harris elaborated.
Kelly said a majority of the youth who go through the Sanctuary of Hope program are young people who have experienced some form of housing instability or housing crisis.
“The goal of the work that we do is really centered around helping young people leave here with leadership skills and other forms of what we call protective factors in order for them to continue on with their stabilization journey and become loving, caring and active citizens in this world,” Kelly said.
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