Tenant Rights Archives - Resilience OC https://resilienceoc.org/category/tenant-rights/ Resilience Orange County Thu, 17 Jul 2025 16:38:28 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=7.0.2 https://i0.wp.com/resilienceoc.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/ROC-Logo.png?fit=32%2C32&ssl=1 Tenant Rights Archives - Resilience OC https://resilienceoc.org/category/tenant-rights/ 32 32 128509040 Housing Is a Human Right: Tenants Build Power in Costa Mesa https://resilienceoc.org/housing-is-a-human-right-tenants-build-power-in-costa-mesa/ Mon, 30 Sep 2024 21:35:00 +0000 https://resilienceoc.org/?p=2861 On September 29, 2024, Resilience Orange County helped organize the first-ever tenant and housing convening in Costa Mesa—a historic and long-overdue step toward building regional tenant power across Orange County.The Housing and Tenant Rights Convening was co-organized with Costa Mesa Unidos and Housing is a Human Right OC, with support from the Tenants Together and Kennedy Commission. It brought […]

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On September 29, 2024, Resilience Orange County helped organize the first-ever tenant and housing convening in Costa Mesa—a historic and long-overdue step toward building regional tenant power across Orange County.

The Housing and Tenant Rights Convening was co-organized with Costa Mesa Unidos and Housing is a Human Right OC, with support from the Tenants Together and Kennedy Commission. It brought together tenants, grassroots organizers, community leaders, and local elected officials around one shared purpose: to build collective power to challenge displacement, defend tenant rights, and transform the housing system from the ground up.

Breaking Isolation, Building Power

Too often, tenants are forced to navigate a brutal housing market alone. This convening was about changing that. For many, it was the first time they gathered with renters from other cities—Santa Ana, Westminster, Anaheim, and Costa Mesa—to share their stories, struggles, and strategies.

That cross-city connection matters. Housing injustice doesn’t stop at city lines—neither should our organizing. The presence of leaders from each of these cities made it clear that the fight for tenant justice in OC is growing, connected, and being shaped by those on the frontlines.

Grassroots groups like Esperanza Unión de Inquilinos, Costa Mesa Unidos, and CHAMOY brought the heart of the convening into focus. Each of these organizations represents a different thread of the tenant experience—families resisting displacement, youth organizing in their neighborhoods, and local tenant unions building power block by block. Hearing directly from these leaders reminded us that we don’t just need more policy—we need more power in the hands of those who live the consequences of inaction every day.

Voices of Policy and Resistance

The convening also featured a panel of local public officials who have stood alongside tenants in critical housing fights:
Arlis Reynolds, Costa Mesa City Councilmember
Jessie Lopez, Santa Ana City Councilmember
Manny Escamilla, Senior Policy Advisor to OC Supervisor Vicente Sarmiento

These leaders echoed a shared message: policy changes don’t happen in a vacuum—they happen when communities organize and demand them.

People from left to right Manny Escamilla, Jessie Lopez, Arlis Reynolds

A Beginning, Not an End

No campaigns were launched that day. No policies passed. But something more foundational happened: tenants connected across cities, aligned on shared demands, and made a commitment to build together.

The convening marked the first step toward a stronger, countywide tenant movement, rooted in community and led by those most impacted.

It was also a reminder that organizing is not always loud. Sometimes it starts quietly—in small rooms, in living rooms, in convenings like this—where trust is built and strategy begins to take shape.

Costa Mesa Steps Forward

For Costa Mesa, this was a milestone. A city where tenant issues have often gone unseen was now home to its first regional gathering of renters, youth organizers, and housing advocates.

We left that space with more than notes—we left with new relationships, shared vision, and a deeper understanding that our power lives in each other.

We’re grateful to every organizer, tenant leader, and speaker who helped make this convening possible. This is how we move—at the speed of trust, and rooted in the power of our people.

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]]> 2861 From Crisis to Action: Costa Mesa Passes Emergency Tenant Protections https://resilienceoc.org/from-crisis-to-action-costa-mesa-passes-emergency-tenant-protections/ Wed, 08 Nov 2023 18:43:00 +0000 https://resilienceoc.org/?p=2870 On November 7, 2023, Costa Mesa made history by passing the Emergency Just Cause Tenant Protection Ordinance with a 6–1 vote. This landmark decision empowers renters by blocking no-fault evictions and safeguarding working-class families from displacement. After months of organizing and community action, tenants demonstrated the power of collective advocacy. As housing costs soar and families face unjust evictions, this ordinance sends a clear message: tenants deserve protection now. Join us in celebrating this significant victory for housing justice and learn how community efforts can drive real change.

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On Tuesday night, Costa Mesa made history.

After months of organizing, storytelling, and showing up, tenants secured a major win: the City Council passed an Emergency Just Cause Tenant Protection Ordinance with a 6–1 vote. This ordinance gives renters real protections—blocking landlords from issuing no-fault evictions and putting guardrails around the power to displace working-class families.

At Resilience Orange County, we’ve been organizing alongside tenants in Costa Mesa through Costa Mesa Unidos, CHAMOY, and local coalitions for years. And on November 7, 2023, our community proved what’s possible when we move together.

Why This Matters

Costa Mesa tenants have faced harassment, retaliation, and unjust evictions for too long. While housing costs skyrocket and wages stay flat, more families are pushed into overcrowded apartments, unsafe units, or forced to leave the city altogether.

That’s why we joined tenants, youth, and neighbors in demanding action—not someday, but now. Our people couldn’t wait for Sacramento. And thanks to community power, they didn’t have to.

This local ordinance passed before California’s SB 567—a bill to strengthen tenant protections statewide—goes into effect on January 1, 2024. By acting early, Costa Mesa sent a clear message: tenants deserve protection now, and local governments have the power to act.

What the Ordinance Does

The Emergency Just Cause Ordinance updates Costa Mesa’s municipal code to:

  • Require landlords to have a legal reason (just cause) to evict tenants

  • Take effect immediately upon adoption

  • Apply citywide to residential tenants, with limited exceptions

This is a critical step toward housing justice. And it didn’t happen on its own.

This Was a Community Win

This victory belongs to the tenants who showed up—who testified, knocked doors, and spoke truth to power. It belongs to the families who risked retaliation to tell their stories. It belongs to the youth from CHAMOY who reminded us that housing justice is racial justice. And it belongs to the movement builders at Costa Mesa Unidos, who’ve been organizing from the apartments, to the mobile home parks, to city hall.

At Resilience OC, we were proud to support this effort through:

  • Know-your-rights outreach

  • Legal and policy education

  • Community meetings and listening sessions

The Vote

✅ Ayes (6): Councilmembers Arlis Reynolds, Andrea Marr, Loren Gameros, Manuel Chavez, Jeff Harlan, and Mayor John Stephens
❌ Nay (1): Councilmember Don Harper

This is what tenant power looks like.
This is what happens when we organize.
And this is just the beginning.

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]]> 2870 What We Heard in Costa Mesa: Elevating Latino Voices Through Participatory Research https://resilienceoc.org/what-we-heard-in-costa-mesa-elevating-latino-voices-through-participatory-research/ Mon, 06 Jun 2022 15:00:00 +0000 https://resilienceoc.org/?p=2881 At Resilience Orange County, we believe that meaningful change starts with listening to the voices of those most impacted. Our recent report highlights the pressing issues facing Latino families in Costa Mesa, including housing insecurity and barriers to civic engagement. With insights from over 1,200 local residents, we reveal the urgent need for policy interventions that address their everyday struggles. Join us in exploring how we can build a more inclusive and equitable community, ensuring that all voices are heard and valued. Together, we can create a Costa Mesa where everyone has the opportunity to thrive.

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At Resilience Orange County, we believe that meaningful policy and systems change begins with listening to the voices of those most impacted. On June 6, 2022, we released our Summary of Findings from a participatory research project focused on the experiences and needs of Latino residents in Costa Mesa.

This report reflects insights gathered through community surveys, deep canvassing, and direct engagement with over 1,200 local residents. It highlights both the pressing issues impacting Latino families in the city and the civic barriers that limit their full participation in public life.

Read the full report here

Key Findings: Pressing Concerns and Everyday Realities

Through this process, we identified a range of challenges facing working-class Latino communities in Costa Mesa. Among the most urgent were:

  • Housing insecurity, including rapidly rising rents, overcrowding, and fear of eviction.

  • Lack of access to youth programming, economic mobility, and culturally responsive services.

  • Barriers to immigration legal support, which often force families to seek services outside of the city.

In our second round of deep canvassing, we explored residents’ views on three potential local initiatives: a rental assistance fund, a youth development fund, and an immigration legal defense fund. The majority of respondents—62%—prioritized rental assistance, followed by youth development (21%) and legal defense (17%).

These findings underscore the urgent need for policy interventions that respond to the everyday struggles of families who are working to remain rooted in their communities despite rising costs and limited support systems.

Civic Barriers: Exclusion from Local Decision-Making

A striking theme in our conversations was the widespread lack of awareness and access to local civic processes. Notably:

  • 93% of residents surveyed reported they were unfamiliar with how the city’s budgeting process works.

  • Many residents described feeling disconnected from city decision-making and unsure of how to engage meaningfully.

  • Language barriers, limited outreach, and a lack of culturally relevant information were identified as significant obstacles.

As one participant shared, “We’re not against the city—we just don’t know how to be part of it.”

For a city as diverse as Costa Mesa, the absence of inclusive engagement strategies has direct consequences on whose voices are heard and whose needs are met.

A Foundation for Collective Action

This report is not intended as a conclusion, but rather a starting point for deeper engagement, leadership development, and systems change. It will guide Resilience OC’s ongoing work to:

  • Advance equitable policies, including rental stabilization and youth investments.

  • Develop civic education efforts to increase community understanding of the budget and decision-making processes.

  • Support infrastructure for long-term community engagement and accountability.

Through this work, we aim to support a future in which all communities—especially working-class Latino families—can participate fully in shaping the city they call home.

Moving Forward

At Resilience Orange County, we remain committed to building power alongside communities that have long been excluded from political and economic systems. This report affirms what we already knew: Costa Mesa residents are ready to lead, but they need meaningful access, protection, and investment.

We invite community members, partners, and public officials to engage with this report and take it as a call to action. Together, we can build a more inclusive, equitable, and accountable Costa Mesa.

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