Housing Rights Center: "Walk-In" Clinic for Tenants & Landlords

WHEN:      Every Friday, 2 to 5 p.m.
WHERE:   Alhambra Public Library
                   410 West Main Street
COST:       FREE

The Housing Rights Center (www.hrc-la.org), is contracted with the City of Alhambra to provide Alhambra residents with FREE counseling services related to fair housing and landlord/ tenant issues.  Common matters include evictions, security deposits, rent increases, repairs and lease/contract issues. As needed, referrals to other agencies and/or appropriate literature is distributed to patrons. In addition to landlord/tenant counseling, other services include Discrimination Complaint Investigation, Enforcement & Litigation, Predatory Lending Hotline, Outreach & Education, and Advocacy. A free leaflet, available at the library, explains all of the services available through the Housing Rights Center.

Federal, State, and Local laws prohibit housing discrimination based on the categories listed below. These laws provide for remedies to illegal discrimination including injunctive relief, monetary damages, and penalties. In California, virtually every unit of housing for rent or sale is covered under the fair housing laws.

Race l Color l Sex and Sexual Harassment l Religion l National Origin l Ancestry l Mental or Physical Disability (HIV & AIDS included) l Familial Status (Children) l Marital Status l Age l Sexual Orientation l Source of Income l Student Status l Arbitrary Reasons

If your need is urgent, you may also call and speak to a Housing Rights Center representative over the phone by calling (800) 477-5977. Or you may visit one of their three locations:

• Pasadena Office: Jackie Robinson Center
  1020 N. Fair Oaks Ave., Pasadena, CA 91103
  Phone: (626) 791-0211; Fax: (626) 398-8155
   
• Los Angeles Office
  520 S. Virgil Ave., Suite 400, Los Angeles, CA 90020
  Phone: (213) 387-8400; Fax: (213) 381-8555
    
• El Monte Office
  11333 Valley Blvd., El Monte, CA 91731
  Phone: (626) 579-6868 (Walk-in Clinic: Tuesday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.)

Specific services to residents include:

• Counseling on specific housing problems (evictions, security deposit disputes, repairs, and other troubling landlord/tenant problems)
• Counseling on matters related to discrimination (as noted above)
• Seminars on housing rights (offered the first Thursday of the month at 6:30 p.m. at the Jackie Robinson Center in Pasadena)
• Residential Placement Assistance (free residential rental vacancy listings are posted each month)
• Informational materials and workshops on housing issues (presented to community groups, agencies, local organizations, etc.)
  

Additional Related Information on Housing Discrimination:

• Consumer Action - "Fair Housing: It's Your Right" (Available in English and Spanish)
• Fair Housing Law.org - Discusses fair housing laws (English / Spanish)