San Diego Friends Of Legal Aid

SAN DIEGO ADVOCATES FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE'S MISSION IS TO EXPAND AFFORDABLE HOUSING FOR THE POOR THROUGH LEGAL ADVOCACY.

IN 2022, AFFORDABLE HOUSING ADVOCATES PROVIDED SELF-HELP AND REFERRALS TO 317 CALLERS AND CLOSED 93 CASES PROVIDING THE FOLLOWING LEVELS OF ASSISTANCE: 16 COUNSEL AND ADVISE; 28 LIMITED ACTION; 6 NEGOTIATED SETTLEMENT WITHOUT LITIGATION; 4 NEGOTIATED SETTLEMENT WITH LITIGATION; 3 COURT DECISIONS; 2 EXTENDED SERVICES AND 34 OTHER [OVER INCOME, CLIENT WITHDREW, REFERRED]. THE FOLLOWING BENEFITS WERE PROVIDED IN CASES (TO HOUSEHOLDS WITH THE FOLLOWING NUMBER OF MEMBERS), AND WITH THE FOLLOWING ECONOMIC BENEFITS:-PREVENTED LOSS OF HOUSING: 20(56); -NEGOTIATED MOVE OUT WITH SOFT LANDING: 2(8);-ENFORCED TENANTS RIGHTS: 29(77);-ENFORCED RIGHTS TO SAFE AND HABITABLE HOUSING: 8(26);-OTHER HOUSING BENEFITS OBTAINED: 1(5);WITH THE FOLLOWING ECONOMIC BENEFIT/S:BACK AWARD, LUMP SUM: $6798; REDUCED MONTHLY OBLIGATION: $1,417, REDUCED/ELIMINATED CLAIMED AMOUNTS: $37,541TOTAL HOUSEHOLDS HHS (HOUSEHOLD SIZE) BENEFITTED: 60(172)HHS WITH ECONOMIC BENEFIT: 15IMPACT WORK INVOLVED ONGOING REPRESENTATION OF 5 TENANTS IN A 60-UNIT AFFORDABLE SENIOR COMPLEX WHICH IMPOSED RENT INCREASES UP TO 57% IN 2019, BUT IS EXEMPT FROM THE TENANT PROTECTION ACT OF 2019 (TPA), PRIMARILY SETTLEMENT NEGOTIATIONS, AS WELL AS WORK ON REMAND IN OUR COUNTYWIDE REDEVELOPMENT CASE.IN THE SENIOR, AFFORDABLE HOUSING CASE, CROSS MOTIONS FOR SUMMARY JUDGEMENT WERE FILED. THE PARTIES PARTICIPATED IN A MEDIATION WHICH LED TO SETTLEMENT OF THE CASE. PLAINTIFFS AND THE OTHER QUALIFYING TENANTS CONTRACT RENT IS CAPPED AND THEY WILL CONTINUE TO RECEIVE RENT SUBSIDIES FOR THE DURATION OF THEIR TENANCIES.WORK IN THE REDEVELOPMENT CASE INCLUDED INVESTIGATION AND REQUESTING SUPPLEMENTAL OR AMENDED WRIT RETURNS TO ENSURE FULL RECOVERY FOR HOUSING FUNDS. SINCE THE CASE ENSURED THE RECOVERY OF $47.6 MILLION DOLLARS OWED TO LOW AND MODERATE INCOME HOUSING FUNDS, AT THE TIME OF THE DISSOLUTION OF REDEVELOPMENT AGENCIES, AHA AND CO-COUNSEL IN THE CASE MOVED FOR ATTORNEY FEES. THE MOTION WAS OPPOSED AND DENIED. PETITIONER HAS APPEALED. THE AMOUNT RECOVERED REPRESENTS ALL FUNDS OWED FOR DEPOSITS DEFERRED OR SUSPENDED TO, AND LOANS FOR EDUCATIONAL REVENUE AUGMENTATION FUNDS (ERAF) AND SUPPLEMENTAL ERAF MADE FROM, LOW AND MODERATE INCOME HOUSING FUNDS.FUNDS DEPOSITED INTO THE HOUSING FUNDS SUCCESSOR, THE LOW AND MODERATE INCOME HOUSING ASSET FUNDS, CANNOT ASSIST MODERATE INCOME INDIVIDUALS OR FAMILIES AND MUST INSTEAD SERVE THE LOW, VERY LOW AND EXTREMELY LOW INCOME. BECAUSE OTHER FUNDS ARE NEEDED TO DEVELOP AFFORDABLE HOUSING, AND THESE OTHER FUNDS, INCLUDING LOW INCOME HOUSING TAX CREDITS, ARE HIGHLY COMPETITIVE, MORE POINTS ARE AWARDED FOR PROJECTS WHICH SERVE THE POOREST INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES. AFFORDABLE HOUSING DEVELOPERS IN THE REGION GENERALLY LEVERAGE ONE LOCAL DOLLAR WITH 4 OTHER DOLLARS, INCREASING THE IMPACT BY $190 MILLION. DIVIDING THE TOTAL AMOUNT, OF $238 MILLION, BY $225,000 PER UNIT, WOULD CREATE MORE THAN 1,000 NEW AFFORDABLE HOUSING UNITS IN THE REGION.