Covington Helps Settle Landmark Litigation to Aid Thousands of California Renters

LOS ANGELES— Covington, acting pro bono in partnership with legal aid organizations Western Center on Law & Poverty, Public Counsel, and the Legal Aid Foundation of Los Angeles, reached a settlement on behalf of tenant advocacy organizations with the California Department of Housing and Community Development regarding the State’s administration of its Covid-19 Emergency Rental Assistance Program.

The settlement provides a renewed chance for over 100,000 California households struggling with pandemic rent debt to receive critical rent relief funding from the State. Many of these households face the threat of eviction, and additional funding remains essential to supporting and stabilizing families as the housing and homelessness crisis worsens in California.

“This settlement will mitigate some of the worst long-tail impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic on our local communities, and Covington is very proud to have partnered with our co-counsel and clients in this important work,” said Neema Sahni, Partner in Covington’s Los Angeles office.

The Covington team included Neema Sahni, Jeff Kiburtz, Hardy Ehlers, Sylvia Huang, Sara Dennis, Mollie Swears, Jack Heise, and Ace Elliott-Hernandez.