Legal Aid Foundation of Los Angeles (LAFLA) will receive $383,696

The Legal Services Corporation (LSC) announced last week that it is awarding more than $1.1 million in Pro Bono Innovation Fund grants to three California legal aid organizations. Inland Counties Legal Services (ICLS) will receive $435,404, Legal Aid Foundation of Los Angeles (LAFLA) will receive $383,696, and California Rural Legal Assistance (CRLA) will receive $367,167.  

Read More: https://smmirror.com/2022/08/california-legal-aid-providers-awarded-1-1-million-in-grants-to-improve-pro-bono-services/

The City on Monday will begin accepting applications for a one-time program that will distribute $750,000 to low-income tenants unable to pay their upcoming rent increases.

The “Rent Control Adjustment Relief” (RCAR) program will give priority to "very-low- and extremely-low-income households" paying more than half of their income in rent, City officials said.

Read More: https://www.surfsantamonica.com/ssm_site/the_lookout/news/News-2022/August-2022/08_23_2022_Relief_Program_for_Rent_Control_Tenants_Kicks_Off_Monday.html

AND: https://www.santamonica.gov/press/2022/08/23/750-000-in-one-time-rent-relief-is-now-available-to-tenants-in-rent-controlled-apartments-

AND: https://www.smdp.com/rent-relief-program-opens-monday/220636

Located at 1413 Michigan Avenue, the four-story building will comprise 57 studio apartments, reserved for individuals between 30% and 50% of area median income (AMI), as well as a manager’s unit. Residents will benefit from a laundry facility on each floor, a common area deck on the 3rd and 4th floor, 12 on grade parking spaces, and 800 square feet of community space for resident use.

Read More: https://www.smdp.com/mayor-local-officials-and-eah-housing-announce-the-start-of-construction-for-the-laurel-a-santa-monica-supportive-housing-community/220538

New assistance is available in LA County to people facing the prospect of losing their homes. The Short Term Eviction Prevention (STEP) Fund, a program funded by the nonprofit, 1p.org, is launching a pilot program to give out 1,000 micro loans of up to 2,500 dollars to individuals at risk of eviction or dealing with other housing-related challenges. 

Adam Miller, the founder of the STEP Fund said he started the program in response to research showing that many people lose housing as the result of some type of financial shock.

Read More: https://www.smdp.com/new-interest-free-loan-program-launches-in-la-county-to-help-prevent-homelessness/220603

Every building with 3 or more units in the state of California with an exterior elevated element above six feet, requires an inspection per the new “Balcony Law”. The first inspection of these elements must be completed by a licensed architect, engineer or contractor by January 1, 2025. 

Read More: https://smmirror.com/2022/08/zebra-construction-takes-on-balcony-laws/

The City Council on Tuesday will take up an emergency ordinance that protects tenants from eviction if they can't afford to pay a monthly rent increase of more than 3 percent over the next six months.

Read More: https://www.surfsantamonica.com/ssm_site/the_lookout/news/News-2022/August-2022/08_22_2022_City_Council_to_Consider_Eviction_Moratorium.html

Tuesday 8/23 the Santa Monica City Council will consider an Emergency Ordinance to provide “temporary” eviction protection for rent-controlled tenants who, effective September 1 are subject to a rent increase of more than 3% of the current (Maximum Allowable Rent (MAR) prior to 9/1/2022 and self-certify that they are unable to pay the increased amount of rent for the “protected period” of 9/1/2022-1/31/2023 due to financial hardship. The landlord would then not be able to evict for nonpayment of rent for that protected period, until 9/1/2023 The Ordinance would allow the protected tenant up to 12 months to pay the increased rent. The protection provided will constitute an affirmative defense for any tenant in an unlawful detainer action brought by the landlord. (Source-Staff report prepared by City Attorney Douglas Sloan)

From Wes Wellman's Fast Lane News 8/21/22

Although 13 Santa Monica City Council hopefuls and eight prospective Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District Board of Education members have submitted paperwork to run in the November election, only five council and two school board candidates had launched their fundraising campaigns by the most recent campaign finance report deadline last month.

Read More: https://www.smdp.com/two-council-candidates-off-to-a-fast-start-for-campaign-cash/220541

Property, Developments, and Listings on the Westside.

See Video: https://smmirror.com/2022/08/santa-monica-ranked-most-expensive-place-to-rent-in-l-a-santa-monica-real-estate-report-august-22nd-2022/

Challengers will top of the ballot in three of the four Santa Monica races November 8, gaining what could be a slight advantage with voters.

Ballot order will be meaningless in the race for Rent Control Board, where only three candidates are vying for three open seats -- Daniel S. Ivanov; incumbent Ericka Lesley, who was appointed to the Board last month, and Kurt Gonska.

Read More: https://www.surfsantamonica.com/ssm_site/the_lookout/news/News-2022/August-2022/08_18_2022_Santa_Monica_Ballot_Order_Set.html