Residents, legal groups urge City Council to extend StayHoused LA contract amid administration delay

Dozens of tenants, community-based organizations and legal aid providers urged the Los Angeles City Council on Tuesday to extend and fully fund the StayHoused LA contract, saying administrative delays threaten eviction-prevention services and rental assistance just weeks before the new fiscal year.

"I have benefited from it and I'm still benefiting from it at this present time," said Matthew Carson, a program participant, asking the council to "please get this contract signed" so he does not become unhoused.

The appeals came during an extended public comment period dominated by tenants and legal-service representatives who said the April council approval of the StayHoused LA program opened cases, hired staff and obligated community partners to serve hundreds of families. Speakers warned that without an executed contract and interim funding, organizations will be unable to accept new cases, pay staff or disburse rental assistance.

"We demand city council extend the contract for StayHoused LA one year and fully fund the program for this period," said Jessica of the Liberty Hill Foundation, which manages subcontracts for community organizations. "Without an extension, nonprofit legal aid providers and community organizations will be defunded on July 1, cutting off services for low-income, undocumented and at-risk tenants."

Councilmember Nithya Raman, chair of the Council's Housing and Homelessness Committee, told speakers she was working to prevent a service gap. "There is an item on Friday's agenda that addresses the ongoing funding for this tranche of work, and should…