Ethnic Media Services in partnership with California Black Media held a news briefing on Thursday morning (3/17/2022) that was conducted in English and simulcasted in Spanish, Mandarin and Korean. The live broadcast, “Masks Are Coming Off, But the CA Housing Industry Remains Unstable: Housing Counselors Share Resources to Keep You in Your Home” can be viewed here: https://www.facebook.com/EthnicMediaServices/videos/500404518343751
COVID-19 and the related economic disruption have made an already difficult housing situation for millions of California families even harder. Many Californians have already lost their homes, and these losses have disproportionately impacted low-wage earners who are often Black, indigenous and people of color. Free housing counseling is available across the state for renters and owners who are worried about losing their homes, as well as for small landlords. Panelists discussed some of these options, in addition to current foreclosures and eviction protections that may be available.
Speakers included (bios can be downloaded here):
- Eric Johnson, Information Officer, Marketing and Communications Division, California Housing Finance Agency
- Linda Jackson, Executive Director, Inland Empire Resource Center
- Maeve Elise Brown, Executive Director, Housing & Economic Rights Advocates (HERA)
- Mr. & Mrs. Sabastian & Raquel Garcia, CA residents and HUD-Approved Housing Counseling Agency customer
- Ms. Toni Stovall, CA resident and HUD-Approved Housing Counseling Agency customer
Resouces shared included:
- List of partner agencies: https://www.calhfa.ca.gov/community/nms/resources.htm
- Main counseling page: https://www.calhfa.ca.gov/community/nms/index.htm
- 1-800-569-4287
For more info contact Sandy Close at sclose@ethnicmediaservices.org or Jessica Martin at jmartin@ethnicmediaservices.org
Submitted by Chief Editor, Pleshette Robertson
