Cudahy council adopts ordinance limiting evictions unless unpaid rent meets HUD fair‑market threshold

Cudahy — The City Council on Oct. 7 adopted an ordinance (filed as 14E/Ord. 7 63) that prevents landlords from terminating a tenancy for nonpayment unless the tenant has accrued unpaid rent equal to or greater than the HUD fair‑market rent (FMR) for the unit’s size, as listed for the applicable ZIP code.

Council members voted unanimously to approve the ordinance after public testimony from tenants and tenant‑advocacy groups urging protections, and discussion about how the rule will interact with existing rental assistance programs.

The ordinance mirrors the threshold language used in neighboring jurisdictions. City staff and council members described the FMR measure as an objective, third‑party benchmark: HUD posts FMRs annually by county and ZIP code, and the ordinance ties eviction eligibility to those published figures. For the city’s ZIP code the staff showed one‑bedroom FMRs in the range of roughly $1,700–$2,081 depending on the source and year; council members and staff noted the precise FMR value is updated annually by HUD.

Why it matters: Supporters said the change will keep tenants from losing homes over small, temporary arrears and reduce displacement, especially for seniors and families. Opponents and some property‑owner representatives urged hesitation, saying the city should gather eviction‑court data and confirm availability of rental‑assistance funds before changing eviction rules.

Public comment and council debate: Several residents and organizers urged the council to pass the protections. Andres Herrera, who addressed the council in Spanish, said, “We urge you to vote for resolution number 6 6 3,” linking the council action to broader tenant‑protection work. Jasmine Gonzalez, organizer with East Yard Communities for Environmental Justice, said, “Limiting evictions to specific legitimate reasons makes for safer, more stable housing that protects vulnerable residents from being, houseless.”

Council members pressed staff on technical details: what HUD’s FMR schedule covers, how the FMR is applied (by unit size and ZIP code), and whether local rents are above or below the HUD figures. Staff confirmed HUD publishes FMR amounts by ZIP and that the ordinance relies on that published schedule; the city attorney noted FMR formulas change yearly and must be read directly from HUD materials.

Support programs and limits: Council members and staff emphasized that the ordinance does not forgive unpaid rent; tenants will still owe any past due amounts. Several council members also asked staff to increase outreach about existing rental‑assistance programs and explore additional local funding to close gaps for both tenants and small property owners. Multiple council members asked staff to report back on grant or CDBG/PLHA funding that can be used to prevent evictions.

Vote: The ordinance passed on the council floor after a motion from Council member Fuentes; the roll call recorded unanimous support from Council members Fuentes, Gomez, Lomeli, Vice Mayor Doctor Gonzales and Mayor Elizabeth Alcantar Loza.

What happens next: The ordinance was adopted by council vote on Oct. 7. Staff will implement the FMR reference in administrative processes and continue to coordinate rental assistance referrals and outreach.