LOS ANGELES – City Attorney Hydee Feldstein Soto today released her second “Report In the Public Interest” outlining the work her office is leading to finalize $177 million in contracts with service providers that make up the City’s “Stay Housed LA” coalition, the program established by the City of Los Angeles and County of Los Angeles to fund lawyers for eviction defense, rental assistance and tenant education for vulnerable tenants facing unlawful eviction proceedings.
The four service providers with whom the City will be executing new contracts are:
- Legal Aid Foundation of Los Angeles (LAFLA)
- Strategic Actions for a Just Economy (SAJE)
- Liberty Hill Foundation (Liberty Hill)
- Southern California Housing Rights Center (HRC)
As of today, contracts with SAJE and HRC have been finalized and signed; the new contract with LAFLA is nearly finalized and the contract with Liberty Hill is awaiting approval from the Los Angeles Housing Department.
Launched in 2021 as a pilot program, the initial $7 million contract was awarded to LAFLA. This contract was amended and extended nine times, growing to more than $90 million, despite the organization not providing the supporting backup information and reports required by the City in its original contract.
“I am fully committed to supporting these crucial eviction defense services for our vulnerable neighbors in need. Questions remain, however, about how the grants of $90 million were spent during the first 5 years of this program,” said Hydee Feldstein Soto, Los Angeles City Attorney. “Taxpayers deserve transparency and accountability and to know that their money is being used as intended - in this case, to protect vulnerable tenants at risk of unlawful evictions.”
Despite unanswered questions, at the direction of the City Council and the Mayor, City Attorney Feldstein Soto’s Office will finalize the new LAFLA contract while continuing to review prior funding. This will allow critical eviction defense services to proceed while ensuring that appropriate financial oversight remains in place.
City Attorney Feldstein Soto is evaluating the continuing use of an independent forensic accountant to assist in reviewing LAFLA’s financial records and reconciling available data. A forensic audit and financial review will help her determine:
- Whether City funds were used solely for the authorized tenant services.
- Whether City funding can be clearly distinguished from County, State, and Federal funding to ensure accountability and avoid duplication
- Why eviction defense funding has declined while City funding has increased.
- Whether all contractual reporting and financial requirements were satisfied or can be cured.
City Attorney Feldstein Soto’s Report In The Public Interest: Eviction Defense and Prevention Program Contract Status
City Attorney Feldstein Soto’s Fact Sheet: Stay Housed LA Contract: What Residents Should Know
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Hydee Feldstein Soto is the 43rd Los Angeles City Attorney, elected in November 2022 and sworn into office in December 2022. Her team of nearly 1,000 legal professionals, including 500+ attorneys, carries out legal work for the City of Los Angeles at her direction and under her supervision. She is the first female City Attorney in L.A. history.