The City Council is expected Wednesday to amend a contract with the Legal Aid Foundation of Los Angeles to continue eviction defense services for tenants.
Council members are expected to provide $8.4 million to the nonprofit organization as part of the agreement, increasing the total contract from nearly $76 million to $84.3 million. City officials have said providing additional funding is necessary to sustain the organization’s services.
The City Council and Mayor Karen Bass approved a new five-year contract with the organization earlier this year, but City Attorney Hydee Feldstein Soto refused to authorize it. She argued the contract should have undergone a competitive bidding process, though Housing Department officials said allowing it as a sole-source contract was fine.
In the summer, city officials authorized an initial extension of the contract for seven months through January 2026, and provided about $6.6 million in funding.
The foundation is the lead contractor that administers the Stay Housed L.A. program, which provides free legal services to eligible tenants facing eviction. Los Angeles County also partners with the organization for the same service.
Stay Housed L.A. has represented more than 4,700 tenants in eviction proceedings, provided legal assistance to more than 16,000 tenants as well, and distributed more than $11 million in rent relief.