Urge Your City Councilmember to Sign the “Housing is Health” Pledge
Healthy LA is a network of more than 330 advocacy organizations, worker centers, labor unions, service providers, religious congregations, community groups, affordable housing developers, public interest lawyers, public health and safety organizations, and many more uniting to address the devastating social and economic impact of the pandemic and to achieve just relief, recovery, and reconstruction.
Founding Statement – March 15, 2020
Nothing demonstrates our fundamental interconnectedness like a pandemic. Our fates rise and fall together. Our society is now wisely moving to scale back in-person gatherings to stop the spread of COVID-19. This shut-down will cause tremendous hardship for the most vulnerable Californians. People are in danger of losing their homes as the economy grinds to a halt. Service workers and unhoused people run a high risk of infection and lack the space and resources to preserve their health. Immigrants, fearing retaliation, may forgo important preventative care. Our local governments must do everything possible to prevent this health catastrophe from metastasizing into a deeper social and economic crisis, with race and class defining who does well and who does not. There are immediate steps our elected officials can take to begin matching the scope of this emergency, and it requires training our eyes on the right things and the right people.
The right place to look first is to our most vulnerable. Elected and court officials must halt all evictions and foreclosure proceedings at every stage of the process. Losing your home means losing the ability to practice social distancing, to self-quarantine, and to care properly for sick family members. No one should be forced into packed eviction courtrooms to keep a roof over their heads nor should court staff, attorneys, and litigants be congregating for nonessential proceedings. The solution is clear: institute an immediate moratorium on filing evictions and posting eviction notices and place a stay on all trials, defaults, and lock-outs. A citywide rental assistance fund should be enacted for tenants alongside a requirement for banks to negotiate favorable payment plans for residential mortgage holders and cease foreclosure proceedings for the duration of the crisis. Without these protections, we risk forcing hundreds of thousands of Angelenos into overcrowded spaces and unsheltered homelessness. That would be a public health nightmare. No one should need to worry about losing their home when the health imperative is for everyone to stay home.
For those already living without shelter and for those incarcerated, we must do everything possible to ensure their health and safety. LA County’s unhoused population, which is disproportionately Black, consists of the most vulnerable — the elderly, people with disabilities and health conditions, and a large number of people with immune systems compromised by the daily stress of homelessness. Three unhoused people already die every day in LA County. The pandemic threatens to make a bad situation much worse. It is important for city government to stop criminalizing the act of people living in their vehicles and tents. These spaces are essential for maintaining social distance and allowing people to stay dry, warm, and well. The government needs to provide health and hygiene infrastructure such as bathrooms and handwashing stations at encampments to prevent transmission of germs. In some cases, this will take the form of direct cash assistance to congregations and non-profits who are already providing restrooms. Officials should provide indoor spaces to allow unsheltered people to get out of the elements and have a safe, healthy place to live. Motels should be repurposed for housing and quarantining. Vacant and underutilized public properties should be opened as access centers to provide services and housing.
We must take steps to address the hardship and suffering working people will face. The city should guarantee workers at least 14 days (80 hours) of additional paid sick leave effective immediately. Workers should be protected from termination without just cause so no one can be punished because they were quarantined or requested sick leave. In addition, established sick day policies should be enforced, especially for those who are misclassified as contractors and deprived of their right to paid sick leave. All employees who are continuing on the job should be guaranteed time to wash their hands every 30 minutes and have access to necessary protective gear. This is crucial for stopping the spread of the virus. Laid-off workers need a guarantee that they will keep their healthcare during — and get their jobs back after — the crisis, even if their place of employment changes ownership. Uninterrupted insurance for workers is crucial for maintaining our collective health.
In the meantime, nothing helps like cash in a crisis. The city should create a fund for people who aren’t eligible for unemployment — such as informal workers, street vendors, independent contractors, and freelancers of all kinds — so they can continue paying for necessities like food and housing. It’s imperative to increase benefits like General Relief and SNAP food benefits and remove barriers to accessing them. And to keep our whole region resilient, we need small businesses which are a cornerstone of many immigrant communities to persist and flourish. Measures must be taken to protect them such as tax abatements and a temporary moratorium on evictions of small business through commercial leases.
The truth of this moment is the truth of every moment in our society, only moreso. If our goal is for all of us to be safe and healthy, then we train our eyes and resources on those who need the most — this approach is not new. It’s called equity. Racial and economic equity is the way forward yesterday, today, and tomorrow, and in this moment, more crucial than ever. Our own health depends on the health of the person next to us, and the person next to them. Ensuring every Angeleno’s access to the space, resources, and health services they need is how we take care of each other. Our local governments’ actions must reflect this essential truth and rise to the scale of this enormous challenge. This is not the time for half-steps or hesitation. Now is the moment to protect the most vulnerable. When we do that, we protect everyone.
ADD YOUR ORGANIZATION VIA THIS FORM
Healthy LA Endorsers
5 Gyres
A Place Called Home
AAPI Christians for Social Justice
Abundant Housing LA
Ace Los Angeles
ACLU of Southern California
ActiveSGV
Advancement Project California
AFSCME District Council 36
AFT1521 – Los Angeles College Faculty Guild
Ahri for Justice
All California
Alliance for a Better Community
Alliance for Community Transit (ACT-LA)
Alliance of Californians for Community Empowerment (ACCE)
Alternative Field
American Federation of Musicians Local 47
American Federation of Teachers Local 1521 Los Angeles College Faculty Guild – Student Internship Program
American Friends Service Committee – Los Angeles
American Indian Movement So Cal
Angeles Workshop
Anti-Eviction Mapping Project
Anti-Racist Action Los Angeles
API RISE
Arts for LA
Asian Americans Advancing Justice – Los Angeles
Asian Americans for Housing and Environmental Justice
Asian Pacific Islander Forward Movement
Asian Pacific Policy and Planning Council (AP3CON)
Asians in LA
AZUL
BASTA, INC.
Beit T’Shuvah
Bend the Arc: Jewish Action
Bet Tzedek
Beverly and Vermont Community Land Trust
Biocitizen LA
Black Jewish Justice Alliance
Black Lives Matter Los Angeles
Bread Head
Brotherhood Crusade
Burbank Tenants’ Rights Committee
CA Healthy Nail Salon Collaborative
CADRE
California Community Foundation
California LULAC
California OneCare Education Fund
California Pan-Ethnic Health Network (CPEHN)
California Work & Family Coalition
California YIMBY
CASA of Los Angeles
CD Tech
Children’s Defense Fund California
CLEAN Carwash Campaign
Clergy and Laity United for Economic Justice (CLUE)
Climate Resolve
Clockshop
Coalition for Economic Survival
Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights (CHIRLA)
CODEPINK
Collective REMAKE
Committee for Better Banks
Communications Workers of America – District 9
Communities For A Better Environment
Community Clinic Association of Los Angeles County
Community Coalition
Community Health Councils
Community Power Collective
Crenshaw Subway Coalition
CRSP Institute for Urban Ecovillages
CSH
Deep Green Housing and Community Development
Democratic Socialists of America – Los Angeles
Democrats of Pasadena Foothills
Dignity and Power Now
East LA Community Corporation (ELACC)
East Los Angeles Women’s Center
Eastside LEADS
Echo Park Film Center
End Homelessness Now LA
Energy Efficiency for All-Los Angeles
Esperanza Community Housing Corporation
Eviction Defense Network
Executive Service Corps of Southern California
Fair Work Week LA
Faith and Community Empowerment (formerly KCCD)
Feel the Bern – SFV Democratic Club
Feminists in Action
Flatten the Curve NGO
Food & Water Watch
Food 4 Solidarity
Foothills Kitchen
Friends of the Los Angeles River
Friends Of The Observatory
From Lot to Spot
Garment Worker Center
Gender Justice LA
Grass Roots Neighbors
Green Party of Los Angeles County
Ground Game LA
Habonim Dror Camp Gilboa
Hand in Hand: Domestic Employers Network
Haven Neighborhood Services
Heal the Bay
Healing California
HEART L.A. – Housing Equality & Advocacy Resource Team
HODG
Hollywood NOW
Homeless Health Care Los Angeles
HouseLA.org
Housing is a Human Right – AHF
Housing Rights Center
ICNA Council for Social Justice – California
ILM Foundation
Inclusive Action for the City
Inner City Law Center
InnerCity Struggle
Inquilinos Unidos
Institute for Transportation and Development Policy
Institute on Inequality and Democracy at UCLA Luskin
Instituto de Avance Latino
Instituto de Educacion Popular del Sur de California
Interfaith Communities United for Justice and Peace
Interfaith Solidarity Network
Investing in Place
Invisible People
Jewish Center for Justice
Jewish Collaborative of Orange County
Jewish Voice for Peace, Los Angeles
Jobs to Move America
Kairos Community Ventures
Keep Neighborhoods First
Khmer Girls in Action
Korean Resource Center (KRC)
Koreatown Immigrant Workers Alliance (KIWA)
Kounkuey Design Initiative (KDI)
KPFK
KTown for All
La Defensa
LA Forward
LA River Communities for Environmental Equity (LARCEE.org)
LA Voice
LA-Más
LCLAA Los Angeles (Labor Council for Latin American Advancement)
League of Women Voters of Los Angeles
Leap Lab
Legacy LA
Level Ground
Liberty Hill Foundation
LIFT-Los Angeles
Little Tokyo Service Center (LTSC)
Los Angeles Alliance for a New Economy (LAANE)
Los Angeles Black Worker Center
Los Angeles Center for Community Law and Action
Los Angeles Community Action Network (LA CAN)
Los Angeles County Democratic Party
Los Angeles Metaphysical Library
Los Angeles Neighborhood Land Trust
Los Angeles Nightlife Alliance (LANA)
Los Angeles United Methodist Urban Foundation
Los Angeles Urban League
Los Angeles Walks
Los Angeles Workers Educational Society
Making Housing and Community Happen
March And Rally Los Angeles
Maternal and Child Health Access
MAZON: A Jewish Response to Hunger
Me Too Survivors’ March International
Mental Health Advocacy Services, Inc.
MeToo Survivors
Miguel Contreras Foundation
Mobile Workers Alliance
Momtivist
Museum of Social Justice
National Alliance for Filipino Concerns (NAFCON Los Angeles)
National Asian Pacific American Families Against Substance Abuse (NAPAFASA)
National Council of Jewish Women | Los Angeles (NCJW-LA)
National Council of Jewish Women Long Beach/Serving Greater Long Beach and West Orange County
National Health Foundation
National Latino Evangelical Coalition
National Lawyers Guild of Los Angeles
National Organization of Legal Services Workers
Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC)
Neighborhood Housing Services of LA County (NHS-LA)
NoHo Home Alliance
Nonprofit Finance Fund
Occupy /Abolish ICE L.A
One LA – IAF
Orange County Alliance for Just Change
Our Revolution Los Angeles
OurWaterLA
Pacoima Beautiful
Para Los Ninos
Parent Revolution
Pasadena Tenants Union
Peace Over Violence
People for Mobility Justice
People Organized for Westside Renewal (POWER)
Physicians for Social Responsibility – Los Angeles (PSR-LA)
Pilipino Workers Center of Southern California
Poor People’s Campaign California
Poor People’s Campaign Los Angeles
POPS the Club
Power California
Prevention Institute
Procovery Institute
Progressive Asian Network for Action
Project Mask LA
Public Counsel
Public Health Advocates
Public Health Awakened, LA chapter
PUENTE Learning Center
Relief Pal
Resisterhood LA
Restaurant Opportunities Center of Los Angeles
Roofers Local 36
Sacred Places Institute for Indigenous Peoples
Safe Place for Youth
Sages & Seekers
Santa Monica Democratic Club
Santa Monica Ecovillage Network (In formation)
Santa Monicans for Renters’ Rights (SMRR)
SCOPE
SEE-LA (Social Eco Education-LA)
Seeds for Youth Development
SEIU Local 2015
SEIU Local 721
SEIU Local 99
Self Help Graphics & Art
Sierra Club
SoCal 350 Climate Action
Social Justice Learning Institute
Solidarity Research Center
South Central Farm
Southeast Asian Community Alliance (SEACA)
Southern CA Coalition for Occupational Safety & Health (SoCalCOSH)
Southern California Association of NonProfit Housing (SCANPH)
Stonewall Democratic Club
Stories From The Frontline
Strategic Actions for a Just Economy (SAJE)
Streets For All
Students Deserve
Sunrise Movement Los Angeles
T.R.U.S.T. South LA
Taxi Workers Association of Los Angeles
Teamsters Local 399
Tenants Together
Thai Community Development Center
The Center in Hollywood
The Dandelion Collective
The Dinner Party
The Future Left
The Greenlining Institute
The Trust for Public Land
Toberman Neighborhood Center
U.S Vets Homeless Feeding & Housing Services
UCLA Labor Center
UCLA Veterans Legal Clinic
Unincorporated Tenants United (UTU)
Union Station Homeless Services
Unite a Nation
Unite Here Local 11
United Parents and Students (UPAS)
United Steelworkers Local 675
United Way of Greater Los Angeles
Unrig LA
Urban & Environmental Policy, Institute at Occidental College
Valley Jewish Community Center
Venice Community Housing
Venice Equity Alliance
Venice Justice Committee
West Valley Homes YES
West Valley People’s Alliance
Westwood for All
White People 4 Black Lives
Women Organizing Resources, Knowledge and Services (WORKS)
Worksite Wellness LA
would works
Young Storytellers
Religious Congregations & Denominations
Academy for Judaic, Christian, and Islamic Studies
All Saints Church Pasadena
Beloved Everybody Church
Beth Shir Shalom
Blessed Sacrament Church of Hollywood
Centro de Vida Victoriosa AG
Chosen Generation Fellowship Church
Culver City Presbyterian Church
Dolores Mission Church
Episcopal Diocese of Los Angeles Bishop’s Office
FBC Pasadena
Holy Faith Episcopal Church
IKAR Jewish Community
Immanuel Presbyterian Church
Inglewood First UMC
Knox Presbyterian
Leo Baeck Temple
Los Angeles Faith Chapel
McCarty Memorial Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)
Nefesh Jewish Community
New City Church of Los Angeles
Northland Village Church
PazNaz
Presbytery of the Pacific
Samuel
Shtibl Minyan
St. Athanasius Episcopal Church
St. Luke’s Episcopal Church Los Angeles
St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church
Temple Israel of Hollywood
The Congregational Church of Chatsworth
The RowLA – The Church Without Walls – Skid Row
Unitarian Universalist Community Church of Santa Monica: Faith In Action Commission
United Church of Christ, SoCal Nevada Conference
United Methodist Church, Cal-Pac Conference, Justice & Compassion Ministries Office
Businesses
ABBI RETAIL GROUP INC.
Arlene Hopkins & Associates
Castelblanco Law Group, APLC
Château Shatto
Elder & Spencer, LLP
Gideb
Johnson’s Water Solutions
K-Parking, LLC
Life Development Group
Melrose Lightspace Studio
Momentum Solutions
Ooga Booga
Plan it Blue
Poised Creatures Productions
PowerMyLearning – Los Angeles
Rantum Scoot Productions
Responsive Homes
Revolutionario North African Tacos
Ron Milam Consulting
Sarah Leddy Dance Project
Skid Row Coffee
Skid Row People’s Market
Social Good Solutions
Sound Connection LA
SWARD Productions, INC.
The Strategist Company, LLC
Trade Show Temps
Weinberg, Roger & Rosenfeld, A Professional Corporation