L.A. County to Provide Free Legal Defense for Tenants Facing Eviction

The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors voted Tuesday to direct County Counsel to draft an ordinance that would provide some tenants with legal representation during evictions. 

The motion was approved unanimously by the board. It would initially apply to unincorporated parts of the county, but would later expand to cities besides Los Angeles, where a similar ordinance is already in the works. 

The proposal follows the expiration of L.A. County’s eviction moratorium, as well as new data showing a 9% increase in homelessness in the county and a 10% increase in the City of L.A.

Several other U.S. jurisdictions provide free legal counsel to tenants in eviction proceedings, including San Francisco.  

The program would cost around $22 million during the first year, according to the county. 

Counsel has been asked to return a draft within 10 months.