Rent Hikes, Decontrols Focus of Housing Week

In response to a decline in affordable housing, a city-sponsored Housing Crisis Awareness Week will draw attention to problems facing tenants.

Activities scheduled during the week, which begins Friday, will focus on rent increases expected when rent decontrol legislation goes into effect Jan. 1, and the impact of landlords opting out of the federal rent subsidy program, known as Section 8 housing.

Elderly, disabled and low-income families probably will be most affected by the housing shortage, said Peter Mezza of the city housing authority.

Mezza said 72 property owners have chosen to stop renting to Section 8 tenants in the past year. In a recent case, Mezza said, a 73-year-old woman was asked to leave the apartment she has lived in for more than 20 years.

In June, the city began a temporary rent assistance program to help displaced Section 8 tenants stay temporarily in their homes.

For information, call (310) 458-8300.