The median rent in Los Angeles is $3,183, and with the city planning to end COVID-19 protections against evictions and rent hikes, there appears to be no relief for these steep fees in sight. The situation makes a ballot measure like United to House L.A. all the more significant, especially to those who are passionate about tenant rights and ending homelessness.
The measure will be on the November ballot and suddenly picked up new momentum this past Tuesday after comedian and television host Adam Conover tweeted a viral thread in which he broke it all down:
“And here's the best part, the program would be overseen by a Citizens Oversight Commission staffed with independent homelessness experts, NOT politicians. This will ensure the funds raised go not to the loudest voices but to the communities who need it the most.”
Getting both the 61,000 signatures and awareness needed to put the measure on the November ballot took an organized effort from a coalition of more than 200 of the city’s most active and respected organizations, including A.C.L.U. SoCal, Koreatown for All, People’s City Council, and Inclusive Action for the City. U.L.A.’s website proudly boasts, “We are homelessness and housing experts—not politicians.”