Contra Costans need tenant protections to fend off evictions

Sixty calls a month. That's the average number Monument Impact, a Concord-based nonprofit serving immigrant, refugee and low-income communities, receives from tenants needing urgent support.

These unsettling calls warn us of the all-too-often domino effect tenants face, resulting in homelessness and foreshadowing what will happen if policymakers continue to delay action.

We receive calls from residents such as Britney McNeal Bonner in Antioch, a home caregiver, who lost her job during the pandemic and fell $14,000 behind in rent. She applied for California's Emergency Rental Assistance Program but faced incredible bureaucratic hurdles and funding delays, which only covered half of what she owed.

She recently became widowed and is still searching for work, which makes it challenging to pay back the rest. Despite her pending rental assistance program application, which protects her from a court-mandated eviction, her property manager and landlord continually harass her and demand rent. All of these threaten to displace Britney and her three children.

Throughout Contra Costa County, we see struggling neighbors such as Bonner who, through no fault of their own, are pushed out by landlords who see opportunities to raise rents and who are offered little to no help by local officials.

As more people move out of cities into suburbs that often lack substantial tenant protections, it's no surprise that Contra Costa County in 2020 had one of highest eviction rates in the Bay Area. We already were in a housing crisis when we received another “red alert” earlier this month: The rate of homelessness in Contra Costa County jumped 35% during the pandemic — the largest of any county that released data — from 2,295 to 3,093 individuals.

To respond to this, we must follow evidence-proven strategies to help people stay housed. First, we must stop illegal harassment before it starts. At Monument Impact, we and our community partners have pushed for ordinances in Concord and Antioch to combat landlord harassment — work that remains ongoing as city council members consider stronger tenant protections.

Second, we must secure legal representation for tenants. Right to counsel data in San Francisco shows that 59% of fully represented tenants can remain in their homes, and of those who did not remain in their units, the majority received settlements with sufficient time and money to move out. Most tenants are unaware of their rights, such as five days to respond to an eviction notice, or are not given information in a language they understand.

That's why we're pushing for the Contra Costa Board of Supervisors to dedicate $1.8 million annually over the next two years toward legal services, which would serve more than 1,000 residents through consultations and full-scale legal representations, while also appropriating funds for rental assistance. With the state eviction moratorium expiring on June 30, and many residents still behind on rent, we have just weeks to avoid an eviction cliff.

Third, we must secure substantial resources to recover from the pandemic and other crises. Being short on rent — whether it's due to a COVID-19 diagnosis preventing one from working or a car repair urgently needed to get to work, school and doctor's appointments — often tips families into homelessness. We're pushing officials to dedicate American Rescue Plan and other funds for rental and relocation assistance to help families overcome temporary challenges, pay their rent and stay in their home or move to a new home.

Other proposals such as socalled “tiny homes” or accessory dwelling units can take years to complete and help only a few. Proven, timely solutions — rent control, just cause for evictions, anti-harassment ordinances and funds for rental/relocation assistance and legal services — are the best, most effective choices. With 79% of Bay Area residents agreeing that housing affordability is a major concern, their constituents want action today.

By moving forward with these proposals, our leaders will stop homelessness before it starts and help our immigrant, refugee and low-income neighbors thrive here in Contra Costa County.