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SHHS: ACTION ITEM - Discussion and (if desired) provide a recommendation to the City Council on Establishing a Right to Counsel to Provide Legal Support to Tenants as an Extension of the Rent Control and Tenant Protections Ordinances
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Meeting Date: October 7, 2025
Contact Person/Dept.: Shannon Louis, Housing and Human Services Department
Phone Number: (310) 253-5787
Fiscal Impact: Yes [] No [X] General Fund: Yes [] No [X]
Attachments: Yes [] No [X]
Public Notification: (E-Mail) Meetings and Agendas - Housing and Homelessness Subcommittee (10/02/2025)
Department Approval Name, Title Date: Tevis Barnes, Housing and Human Services Director (10/02/2025) _____________________________________________________________________
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends the Council Standing Housing and Homelessness Subcommittee discuss and (if desired) provide a recommendation to the City Council on establishing a right to counsel to provide tenants with legal support as an extension of the Rent Control and Tenant Protections Ordinance.
BACKGROUND
On March 3, 2025, the City Council directed staff to prepare an urgency ordinance establishing a Tenant Right to Counsel Program. On March 17, 2025, after discussing the options for a Tenant Right to Counsel Program, the City Council introduced an interim ordinance which would establish a Tenant Right to Counsel Program for a period of 12-months. On April 14, 2025, staff returned to Council with the interim ordinance and Pilot Program provisions for consideration and adoption. Council did not adopt the Tenant Right to Counsel Program. During that meeting, Council directed staff to return with options for a direct rental assistance program as an extension of right to counsel programming for Council to determine how to allocate resources to these programs. During its May 14, 2025 meeting, this body discussed rental assistance and legal support as a two-prong option to aid tenants facing ev...
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