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Housing

Longtime residents of CD-14 have experienced a tidal wave of gentrification and displacement. Too many of us can no longer afford to live in the neighborhoods and homes that raised us. It’s time to make affordable housing a reality in Los Angeles.

  • Tie rent control to real wages:

Right now, increases on rent-controlled units are tied to changes in the Consumer Price Index. But the lowest cap that the city can put on rent increases in rent-controlled units is three percent. The Consumer Price Index only increased by three percent once in the last decade -- meaning that rent-controlled units have been allowed to increase in price well beyond inflation. This is bad policy. Rent-controlled units should not have a three percent minimum permitted increase when the CPI is even lower. Even better, rents on these units should actually be tied to real wages, so rents don’t go up until our paychecks do.

  • Vacancy Taxes and Speculation Fees:

When big pieces of land are empty, or houses are vacant, it only makes our housing crisis worse and drives up the cost of rent. Ysabel supports a vacancy tax that would encourage property owners to rent or sell their properties, increasing the housing supply and reducing rental costs. She would also charge property flippers speculation fees, in order to stop corporate landlords from turning a profit at the expense of everyday working people. That speculation fee would be reinvested into public services and affordable housing initiatives.

  • Community Land Trusts (CLTs):

CLTs acquire and manage properties so that residents have a direct say in property management and development. That means corporate landlords can’t have complete control over our housing stock. We can allocate surplus land to be administered by CLTs, and direct the City to buy up vacant buildings and develop them into affordable housing administered by CLTs.

  • Social and Community-Owned Housing:

It’s time to expand public housing in Los Angeles. By investing in social housing projects managed by the community, we can ensure long-term affordability and prevent displacement.

  • Fostering Housing Cooperatives:

Empowering tenants to collectively own and manage their housing through cooperative models not only fosters a sense of community but also challenges the dominance of profit-driven landlords. Through Ysabel’s work, she has helped to establish and provide legal assistance to support the existence of housing cooperatives in LA, and will expand these efforts once elected.

  • Promote Property Affordability Covenants and Zoning Adjustments for Multifamily Living:

Ysabel's housing policy emphasizes property affordability covenants as a vital tool to maintain housing affordability. By addressing zoning regulations, we'll encourage the cohabitation of multiple families within suitable housing structures. This involves exploring zoning adjustments to accommodate multifamily living arrangements, ensuring that space and housing structures can support and legally house multiple families, easing the strain on individual housing units.

  • Extension of Affordable Housing Covenants and Financial Instruments for Perpetual Affordability:

Extending the expiration date of affordable housing covenants beyond the conventional 55 years is a key aim. Ysabel proposes the creation of financial mechanisms and instruments to guarantee perpetual affordability. This strategy involves innovative financial tools to secure housing affordability for the long term, safeguarding communities against the risk of gentrification and displacement.

  • Establishment of a Los Angeles Housing Bank for Affordable Housing Support:

Ysabel advocates for the creation of a housing bank akin to California's IBANK, aiming to provide accessible low-interest loans and comprehensive support for the development of affordable housing projects across Los Angeles. This initiative seeks to bolster the financial resources available for affordable housing development, making it more feasible and sustainable.

  • Streamlined HACLA Oversight Under Commission Control:

Efforts will be made to streamline oversight of the Housing Authority of the City of Los Angeles (HACLA), ensuring that its operations are more efficient and transparent. Placing direct control under the commission's purview aims to enhance accountability, improve decision-making processes, and better serve the housing needs of the community.

  • Empowering Residents with Community and Tenant Opportunity to Purchase Acts (COPA/TOPA):

Ysabel's plan involves working toward the facilitation of the Community Opportunity to Purchase Act (COPA) and Tenant Opportunity to Purchase Act (TOPA). These resources empower residents to take control of their housing situations and actively shape the future of their communities. By ensuring access to these resources, residents gain the opportunity to have a substantial say in the management and development of their living spaces.

  • Access to Community Capital for COPA/TOPA Implementation:

Promoting access to community capital is pivotal for implementing COPA and TOPA effectively. Ysabel will focus on creating pathways for communities to access financial resources necessary for COPA/TOPA implementation. This approach aims to shift the real estate market toward a more equitable and community-oriented model, empowering residents and fostering a sense of ownership and responsibility within their communities.

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