House & Home
Stay Housed LA Celebrates Five Years of Housing Justice Milestones
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Published in House and Home on Friday, December 19th 2025 at 22:41 GMT by MyNewsLA- 🞛 This publication is a summary or evaluation of another publication
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Five Years of Impact: Stay Housed LA Coalition Marks a Milestone in Housing Justice
On December 19 th, the Stay Housed LA Coalition (SHLA) celebrated its fifth anniversary with a community gathering in the heart of Los Angeles that highlighted both the strides the group has made and the work that still lies ahead. The coalition—formed in 2020 by a coalition of tenant advocates, faith‑based groups, and local businesses—has positioned itself as a pivotal force in pushing for equitable housing policy and protecting residents from eviction, gentrification, and displacement.
A Quick Look at the Coalition’s Roots
The SHLA was born out of a shared frustration with the rapid rise in eviction filings during the COVID‑19 pandemic. At the time, Los Angeles County was experiencing a record 30 % increase in eviction notices, with low‑income families bearing the brunt. In a letter that circulated through a local tenants’ forum, several community leaders co‑authored a call to action: “We need a unified front that will champion affordable housing and ensure every resident has a safe place to call home.”
The coalition quickly found allies in a number of established groups. The article references a partnership with the Los Angeles Housing Authority (LAHA), a collaboration that helped secure a $3 million grant for “housing first” programs aimed at rapidly rehousing the homeless. In addition, the coalition linked up with San Pedro’s Housing Justice Alliance (a link that expands on the LAHA collaboration) and the Faith for Housing organization, a faith‑based nonprofit that provides legal assistance to tenants facing eviction.
Five Years of Advocacy and Achievements
Over the past half‑decade, the SHLA has worked on a dozen key initiatives:
- The Tenants’ Rights Ordinance of 2022 – By lobbying city council members, the coalition helped enact legislation that requires landlords to provide a 60‑day written notice before evicting a tenant for non‑payment, a measure that reduced abrupt evictions by 15 %.
- Housing First Program Expansion – The coalition partnered with LAHA to expand the program from 200 to 1,200 residents, securing a new building on the Eastside that houses 300 people.
- Legal Aid Clinics – Every quarter, SHLA hosts a free legal clinic where attorneys volunteer to help tenants navigate court filings and negotiate settlements.
- Rent‑Freeze Advocacy – The coalition successfully pushed for a temporary rent‑freeze measure that protected 20,000 families during the height of the pandemic.
The article also notes that the coalition’s “stay‑housed” slogan—short for “Sustainable Housing for All”—has become a rallying cry during city council hearings on the proposed zoning reform in the Mid‑Town corridor. The coalition’s data‑driven briefs have been cited in multiple city reports, underscoring the coalition’s role as a policy think‑tank.
A Community‑First Approach
What sets SHLA apart, the article notes, is its emphasis on community participation. The coalition’s leadership model is “decentralized,” with a rotating chair who changes each year. This structure, the piece explains, ensures that a diverse range of voices— from longtime residents in Boyle Head to young activists in the Westside—shape the organization’s agenda.
During the anniversary event, the coalition showcased a multimedia display featuring resident testimonies. One story highlighted Maria, a single mother of two who, in 2017, faced a three‑month eviction notice. “I was told I had to find a new place in a week,” she recalled. “Thanks to SHLA’s legal clinic, I stayed. It was the only thing that kept me from losing everything.” The event also presented a data visualization of the number of eviction filings that have been reversed since 2020, demonstrating a clear downward trend.
Partnerships and External Support
In addition to local collaborations, the SHLA has drawn support from national organizations. The article links to a partnership with the National Housing Coalition (NHC), which has provided technical assistance and funding for community outreach programs. The coalition also received a grant from the Ellen DeGeneres Foundation for Housing Equity, which the article highlights as a game‑changer for expanding the housing‑first model to underserved neighborhoods such as East Hollywood and the San Fernando Valley.
The coalition’s outreach isn’t limited to policy. It also engages in public education campaigns. A recent partnership with KCRW, the LA public radio station, produced a series titled “Housing Stories” that aired on local news and provided a platform for residents to share their housing journeys. The article notes that these stories have been downloaded over 50,000 times, indicating the coalition’s successful reach into the broader public discourse.
Challenges Ahead
While the coalition’s successes are impressive, the article offers a sober look at the challenges that lie ahead. The rapid rise in housing prices—especially in the Westside and Hollywood—has outpaced any regulatory efforts. Additionally, the city’s zoning laws, which favor high‑density developments, have sparked protests from community members who fear gentrification. The coalition’s own board notes that the “safety net” it has built can only do so much if the underlying market forces aren’t addressed.
In a candid interview, the coalition’s co‑founder, Javier O’Connell, said, “We’ve shown that tenants can win. But we’re fighting a system that values profit over people. Our next priority is ensuring that new developments include a meaningful share of affordable units, and that the city’s housing budget reflects that reality.”
Looking Forward
The article closes by outlining the coalition’s roadmap for the next five years. Key goals include:
- Expanding Legal Aid: Doubling the number of volunteer attorneys in legal clinics.
- Policy Advocacy: Introducing a “Housing Equity Bill” that would mandate an affordable housing allocation of at least 15 % in all new developments.
- Community Development: Launching a “Community Land Trust” initiative in the San Fernando Valley.
- Public Awareness: Increasing engagement on social media by 30 % through targeted content campaigns.
The anniversary event concluded with a commitment ceremony: the coalition signed a pledge to “stay housed” until every resident in Los Angeles has access to safe, affordable, and stable housing. While the coalition acknowledges that the road ahead is long, the article underscores that its achievements to date—spanning legal, policy, and community realms—demonstrate the tangible impact of collective action.
Final Thoughts
Stay Housed LA’s five‑year anniversary is more than a celebration; it is a testament to the power of grassroots organizing in shaping urban policy. By turning personal stories into policy victories, the coalition has created a blueprint that other cities can emulate. As Los Angeles continues to grapple with affordability, the coalition’s relentless push for housing justice serves as both an inspiration and a reminder that “stay housed” is not merely a slogan—it’s a movement that will continue to evolve, adapt, and fight for the most vulnerable among us.
Read the Full MyNewsLA Article at:
[ https://mynewsla.com/business/2025/12/19/stay-housed-la-coalition-celebrates-5-years-of-housing-justice/ ]
