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Last Wednesday, families were forcibly removed from vacant state-owned homes in El Sereno. They were charged with crimes and made homeless on the eve of Thanksgiving.
It didn’t have to happen this way. (thread) https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2020-11-26/eviction-homeless-covid-19-caltrans-vacant-houses-pandemic
It didn’t have to happen this way. (thread) https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2020-11-26/eviction-homeless-covid-19-caltrans-vacant-houses-pandemic
El Sereno has a long and complicated relationship with the state of CA.
For decades, CalTrans bought homes (and forced sales through eminent domain) to build an extension of the 710 freeway directly through the neighborhood. https://laist.com/2020/11/26/chp_removes_activists_from_empty_el_sereno_homes_owned_by_caltrans.php
For decades, CalTrans bought homes (and forced sales through eminent domain) to build an extension of the 710 freeway directly through the neighborhood. https://laist.com/2020/11/26/chp_removes_activists_from_empty_el_sereno_homes_owned_by_caltrans.php
In response to sustained pushback, the project died in 2018 and CalTrans committed to sell its 460 homes.
But a lack of urgency, as well as state laws limiting how the homes could be sold, have led to very few sales. And as many as 170 have sat vacant. https://www.latimes.com/socal/la-canada-valley-sun/news/story/2019-10-16/portantino-bill-killing-710-freeway-completion-signed-newsom
But a lack of urgency, as well as state laws limiting how the homes could be sold, have led to very few sales. And as many as 170 have sat vacant. https://www.latimes.com/socal/la-canada-valley-sun/news/story/2019-10-16/portantino-bill-killing-710-freeway-completion-signed-newsom
This March, a group of unhoused families called Reclaiming our Homes occupied 12 properties to protest their vacancy during a pandemic and a housing crisis.
CalTrans eventually agreed to lease 22 homes to HACLA and the families were allowed to move in. https://laist.com/2020/11/16/el_sereno_caltrans_homeless_families_reclaimers.php
CalTrans eventually agreed to lease 22 homes to HACLA and the families were allowed to move in. https://laist.com/2020/11/16/el_sereno_caltrans_homeless_families_reclaimers.php
Last week, more housing insecure families moved to reclaim vacant homes. They were met by state violence.
Children and elderly people were forcibly removed by armed officers and charged with crimes like trespass and even burglary. https://knock-la.com/el-sereno-reclaimer-thanksgiving-eviction-california-highway-patrol-41e22d9f632
Children and elderly people were forcibly removed by armed officers and charged with crimes like trespass and even burglary. https://knock-la.com/el-sereno-reclaimer-thanksgiving-eviction-california-highway-patrol-41e22d9f632
It is a sad irony that the state allowed these homes to deteriorate, and now cites it as the reason people cannot shelter there.
Is it any wonder -- when direct action is the only thing that has moved the state to act -- that more activists might attempt the same?
Is it any wonder -- when direct action is the only thing that has moved the state to act -- that more activists might attempt the same?
Instead of dragging our feet on reallocating this state-owned property, we should see it as an immense opportunity.
In the short term, CalTrans could lease more homes to HACLA for use as part of its Transitional Housing Program.
But we could be thinking even bigger.
In the short term, CalTrans could lease more homes to HACLA for use as part of its Transitional Housing Program.
But we could be thinking even bigger.
The state could pass legislation allowing CalTrans to sell these properties to HACLA at extremely below-market rates, or even for free.
HACLA could rehab the homes that require it, or build new affordable duplexes or triplexes subsidized through its Section 8 voucher program.
HACLA could rehab the homes that require it, or build new affordable duplexes or triplexes subsidized through its Section 8 voucher program.
The state could also authorize transferring ownership to the El Sereno Community Land Trust, as activists are demanding.
This is not unprecedented. Land Trusts in Oakland and Philadelphia acquired properties in response to similar reclaiming actions. https://theintercept.com/2020/09/29/philadelphia-public-housing/
This is not unprecedented. Land Trusts in Oakland and Philadelphia acquired properties in response to similar reclaiming actions. https://theintercept.com/2020/09/29/philadelphia-public-housing/
If this pandemic has taught us one thing, it’s that our government can act boldly and urgently when required by an emergency.
Housing in LA is an emergency, even absent COVID-19, and we should be treating it that way.
Housing in LA is an emergency, even absent COVID-19, and we should be treating it that way.
To learn more about Reclaim and Rebuild Our Community, you can follow them at @rroc_la and read their statements here: https://linktr.ee/rroc
