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Learn about Stay Housed LA and our mission

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About Stay Housed LA

Apply for Legal Help

Find a Workshop

Learn How Evictions Work

Resources

Learn how to defend yourself from eviction

Self-Help Eviction Defense

<h2>Before you begin</h2>If you need assistance applying for legal services, call the Stay Housed LA hotline at 1-888-694- 0040.To be eligible for legal services:<ul><li>You MUST live in Los Angeles County. If you do not live in Los Angeles County, please check out our page about the <a href="/tenant-rights">eviction process</a>, which includes information about state law.&nbsp;</li><li>You must be low income.</li><li>You must have either received an eviction lawsuit (unlawful detainer) or a termination notice of Section 8 or public housing from the Housing Authority of Los Angeles (HACLA).</li><li>You are more likely to get representation if you live in one of these <a href="/priority-zip-codes">zip codes</a>. SHLA does not yet have enough lawyers to represent all tenants in Los Angeles County. Therefore, we are prioritizing the most vulnerable communities.&nbsp;</li><li>Your immigration status does NOT matter. We represent documented and undocumented tenants.&nbsp;</li><li>You do not need to have a written lease.&nbsp;</li></ul>The information you enter in this website will be shared between the organizations that make up Stay Housed LA, the City and County of Los Angeles, and their third party evaluator. No attorney-client relationship is formed by filling out this website form.

Your address is in Los Angeles County. Click next to continue.

Your address is not in Los Angeles County. Stay Housed LA only serves residents of Los Angeles County.

The Notice to Vacate is the last step in a legal eviction process.<div class="flex flex-row"><img alt="Notice to vacate" src="eviction-notice.png"> <img src="new-notice-to-vacate-redacted.png" alt="Notice to vacate redacted"></div>

The Summons and Complaint are usually served together. This is the eviction lawsuit.<div class="flex flex-row"><img alt="Summons - Unlawful detainer-eviction" src="summons-page1.jpg"><img alt="Summons - Unlawful detainer-eviction" src="summons-page2.jpg"></div>

<h2>Income Eligibility Information</h2>

Please input information about your income to determine whether you are eligible for free legal services.

Do not include roommates unrelated to you.

Assets include cash, money in a bank account, stocks, and the equity value of a home you do not live in.

Thank you for reaching out to Stay Housed LA

Unfortunately, tenants who do not have an active eviction case or do not meet our income requirements are not eligible for legal representation through Stay Housed LA.

However, anyone can attend an educational event where we provide information about the eviction process and your rights as a tenant in Los Angeles County.

See the workshops below that are relevant to you. If you want to have a one-on-one conversation with a legal professional, make sure to sign up for a clinic.

Based on the information you provided, you are eligible for free legal services.

Please fill out the form below to be connected with a legal service provider and a community-based organization in your area.

Contact Information

By selecting &quot;text&quot; as a preferred method of contact, you agree to receive text messages from Stay Housed LA. Message and data rates may apply. Message frequency varies.

Apply for free legal services to help with eviction in Los Angeles County. 

Sign Up for Update

Stay Connected

City of Los Angeles

County of Los Angeles

How to Respond to a Notice from Your Landlord.

Tenant Empowerment Program

Join us as we help you learn the basics of how to participate in our Tenant Empowerment Program. Learn how to properly rename yourself in a Zoom meeting, create your PIP (Personal Information Paragraph), and complete both online and in-person intake.

This 2-hour introduction is required to attend our TEP Class on Mondays and Wednesdays at 6 PM or on Saturdays at 9:30 AM.  Or you can watch our videos 1A, 1B, and 1C.

TEP for Beginners - Preparing your case for victory.

An EDN attorney (if available) attends this class to counsel TEP students who have upcoming court dates and/or deadlines. 

TEP Counseling Class.

Either side in an eviction case can ask the other side to identify all of the facts they intend to prove as well as all of the witnesses and other evidence they have.  It happens in about 25% of the cases. This is called Discovery.  The moment you get papers with the words: "Interrogatories," "Admissions," and "Production of Documents", sign up for this workshop so we can teach you how to respond.  This workshop is in English and Spanish. 

How to Respond to Discovery Class – Form Interrogatories – Unlawful Detainer

Discovery Response

Join us to learn more about general tenant protections for LA City. We'll cover rent debt, the eviction process, and how StayHousedLA and SAJE can help you. This workshop is specific to City of Los Angeles, please register for our County of Los Angeles specific workshops if you do not live in the City of Los Angeles. / Únase con nosotros para obtener más información sobre las protecciones generales para inquilinos en la ciudad de Los Ángeles. Cubriremos la deuda de alquiler, el proceso de desalojo y cómo StayHousedLA y SAJE pueden ayudarlo. Este taller es específico de la ciudad de Los Ángeles; regístrese para nuestros talleres específicos del condado de Los Ángeles si no vive en la ciudad de Los Ángeles.


LA City: Know Your Rights In-Person Workshop/ Cuidad de L.A.: Taller en persona Conozca Sus Derechos. (SAJE & ICLC)) 

Know Your Rights

Get help with using the Tenant Power Toolkit, an online resource that lets tenants create an answer (and other early paperwork) for their eviction case. Attendees will only get assistance with using the Toolkit to respond to their eviction -- you cannot get legal representation or help with other issues at this workshop. The Answer Tool can also be used at any time by tenants on their own.

Register Now

Tenant Power Toolkit: In-Person Answer Workshop at the Pico Union Branch Library

Answer Clinic

This class will teach you what to expect during your first court appearance.
Watch video 2C before coming to this class.

How to Prepare for Your First Day of Court.

Join us in South Whittier for a Tenants Know Your Rights Workshop that will cover tenant protections at the state and county levels with a special focus on eviction and how to respond if you receive an eviction notice. Limited Counsel & Advice appointments with Legal Aid Foundation will be available.

LA County Know Your Rights + Legal Clinic

Habitability

Harassment

Watch video 2C before coming to this class.
This class will teach you the speeches we recommend you use when responding to specific questions from the landlord’s attorney and/or the judge/commissioner. Our EDN staff will assume the roles of the landlord attorney or the judge/commissioner and provide you with an opportunity to role-play and practice these important speeches. The more you practice, the more confident you will be during your court appearance.

How to be Effective in Court - Role Playing with your opponent and your judge.

The jury won’t see your documents if you can’t get them into evidence!  We will look at your exhibits to determine if there are other documents that you need to add, and show you how to enter your documents into evidence. This bilingual Spanish workshop is for in-person attendees only and is designed to prepare them for the eviction process. 

Evidence Presentation Workshop: Hosted by Eviction Defense Network

Eviction Trial Prep

This clinic is to provide walk-in support for your questions about your rights as a tenant, to help you better understand your rights and what legal options may be available to you. In addition to answering your questions, we can also assist you in preparing and filing your Answer to an Unlawful Detainer (eviction lawsuit). 

Tenants' Rights and Answer Clinic (Housing Rights Center)

How to Respond to a Summons and Complaint for Eviction.
Watch video 2B before coming to this class.

How to Respond to a Summons and Complaint for Eviction.

Join us to learn about your rights as a tenant, the eviction process, rent debt, and connect with an attorney who can provide guidance on any legal questions related to your housing situation.  /  Únase a nosotros para conocer sus derechos como inquilino, el proceso de desalojo, la deuda por alquiler y póngase en contacto con un abogado que pueda orientarle sobre cualquier cuestión legal relacionada con su situación de vivienda.

City and County of LA: Know Your Rights In-Person Workshop + Legal Clinic / Ciudad y condado de Los Ángeles: Taller presencial «Conozca sus derechos» + Clínica jurídica (Hosted by LACAN & LAFLA)

Join us to learn about the opening statement. This bilingual Spanish workshop is for in-person attendees only and is designed to prepare them for the eviction process. 

Opening Statement Class.

How to Respond to Discovery Class – Special Interrogatories and Request for Production of Documents (Demand for Inspection and Copying)

This in-person workshop will cover your basic rights as a tenant, focusing on the eviction process.  Although this workshop is led in English, we will have live interpretation to Spanish available.  In addition, this workshop will cover the current tenant protections for the City of Pomona.  Upon registering for this workshop, you will be sent the location of the event.  

Bilingual Tenant KYR Workshop -  In-Person

Join us to learn all about the trial and exhibit binders for court. This presentation is a bilingual Spanish workshop to prepare you for the eviction process. 
Watch video 2F before attending this class.

Trial Binder Class.

Get help with using the Tenant Power Toolkit, an online resource that lets tenants create an answer (and other early paperwork) for their eviction case. Attendees will only get assistance with using the Toolkit to respond to their eviction - you cannot get legal representation or help with other issues at this workshop. The Answer Tool can also be used at any time by tenants on their own at https://tools.debtcollective.org. 

Tenant Power Toolkit: In-Person Answer Workshop at the LA Law Libary

Join this workshop to learn more about renters’ rights in the City of Los Angeles. We’ll cover Rent Control Protections, habitability issues, the eviction process, and what to do if your landlord is harassing you.

L.A. City Renter’s Rights Workshop - Hosted by POWER and Inner City Law Center (VIRTUAL)

In the Negotiation Class, an EDN attorney (if available) will join to answer questions about how to negotiate with your landlord or the landlord’s attorney.
Watch video 2C before coming to this class.
Look at your 16 Factors to Consider.

Negotiation Class.

In the Exhibit Binder class, we will review the types of evidence to include in your Trial Binder and how to organize it effectively.
Watch video 2E before attending this class.

Exhibit Binder Class.

Join us as we guide you through the basics of participating in our Tenant Empowerment Program.

An EDN attorney (if available) attends this class to counsel TEP students who have upcoming court dates and/or deadlines.

TEP Counseling Class (featuring Victories and Cautionary Tales).

City of Los Angeles Tenants Rights Monday Workshop-Hosted by Coalition for Economic Survival (CES)

Join Los Angeles Center for Community Law and Action to learn more about your rights as a renter in LA County. 

County of Los Angeles Know Your Rights hosted by LACCLA

Join us for the Eviction Trial Prep workshop, open to tenants in all of Los Angeles County. We will review the eviction process, trial, settlement, and how to gather and present evidence. This workshop is for people who have received a summons and complaint and do not have legal representation
//
Únase a nosotres para el taller de preparación para el juicio de desalojo, abierto a inquilines en el condado de Los Ángeles. Revisaremos el proceso de desalojo, el juicio, el acuerdo, y cómo reunir y presentar pruebas. Este taller es para personas que han recibido citatorio y denuncia que no cuentan con representación legal
//
参加我们的驱逐庭审准备研讨会，该研讨会向洛杉矶县的租户开放。我们将复习驱逐程序、庭审、和解以及如何收集和出示证据。本研讨会适合收到传票和起诉书但没有法律代表的人
//
請來參加我們的驅逐案庭審準備講座，開放給洛杉磯縣的租戶參加。 講座將介紹驅逐程序、庭審、和解以及如何收集與出示證據。 本講座適合已收到傳票和訴狀，但沒有律師代理的人


LA CITY and LA COUNTY EVICTION TRIAL PREP WORKSHOP  //  TALLER DE PREPARACIÓN PARA EL JUICIO DE DESALOJO DEL CONDADO DE LOS ÁNGELES // 洛杉矶县驱逐庭审准备研讨会 // 洛杉磯縣驅逐案庭審準備講座

Join us to learn about your rights as a renter at our online workshop, covering tenant protections at the state, county and city level.  We’ll cover habitability issues, what to do if your landlord is harassing you, and the eviction process.  There will be a Q&A at the end.  /  Únase a nosotros para conocer sus derechos como inquilino en nuestro taller en línea, que abarca la protección de los inquilinos a nivel estatal, del condado y de la ciudad.  Trataremos temas relacionados con la habitabilidad, qué hacer si su arrendador lo acosa y el proceso de desalojo.  Al final habrá una sesión de preguntas y respuestas. 

City and County of LA: Know Your Rights Virtual/ In-Person Workshop / Ciudad y condado de Los Ángeles: Taller virtual/presencial «Conozca sus derechos» (Hosted by LACAN & LAFLA)

Join us to learn more about general tenant protections for LA County and City.  We’ll provide a general overview of the tenant rights. This workshop is specific to Los Angeles County, including the City of Los Angeles. 


L.A. City and County : Know Your Rights Virtual Workshop hosted by KIWA with LAFLA

This workshop covers the eviction process, including pre-trial preparation and settlement negotiation.

Eviction Pre-Trial & Settlement Negotiation Workshop

Settlement Negotiation

Join us to learn more about your rights as a renter in the county of Los Angeles. In this workshop you will learn about Tenant's rights what is left of the COVID-19 Emergency tenant protections, the eviction process & how Stay Housed LA can help.


LA County Workshop Hosted by CBE in Collaboration with CLSoCal

Join us to learn about your rights as a renter in Los Angeles County. This presentation is a trilingual workshop (English, Armenian, Spanish) to prepare you for the eviction process. The workshop will be in Glendale, CA 

LA County: Know Your Rights: Protection for your units In-person Workshop hosted by Armenian Relief Society Social Services

Our Tenants Know Your Rights Workshop will cover tenant protections at the state, county, and City of Long Beach levels, with a special focus on eviction and how to respond if you receive an eviction notice.

Long Beach Know Your Rights + Legal Clinic

This is an in-person workshop will cover your basic tenant rights for the County of Los Angeles, focusing on what you can do if you are facing an eviction.  This workshop will also cover the current tenant protections in the City of Pomona.  This is a bilingual English/Spanish workshop with interpreters. 

Bilingual Tenant KYR Workshop - In-Person

Join us for an informative workshop on renter rights in the City of Los Angeles. Participants will learn about key tenant protections, including the Los Angeles Rent Stabilization Ordinance (RSO), Just Cause for Eviction, and Fair Market Rent (FMR) standards. The workshop will also cover AB 1482, the California Tenant Protection Act, which provides statewide rent control and Just Cause eviction protections, as well as the Tenant Anti-Harassment Ordinance (TAHO).
Attendees will gain a clear understanding of the eviction process and how Stay Housed LA provides legal support, resources, and assistance to tenants at risk of eviction.

 LA City: Know Your Rights Virtual Workshop hosted by CBE in collaboration with ICLC

Join us to learn more about general tenant protections for LA County. We'll cover the eviction process, rent increases, habitability, and tenant harassment. 

LA County: Know Your Rights Virtual Workshop hosted by East Yard Communities for Environmental Justice with Community Legal Aid SoCal

 Join us to learn more about your rights as a renter in LA County. 