Return to Goal 4. Strengthen Social Justice

JUST CAUSE FACTS
Housing and Renter Protection in Richmond

Who Are Renters in Richmond?

According the 2000 US Census, 34,752 households (98,080 people) live in Richmond. There are 16,000 renter households in Richmond. This represents close to one-half (47%) of all Richmond households

Richmond renters are mostly households with children (40%).

Richmond renters are primarily people of color. Over 80% of those who rent are African American, Latino or Asian/Pacific Islander. This is in contrast with homeowners in Richmond, where only 49% are people of color.

The majority of renter households (60%) live in smaller buildings.

An overwhelming majority (70%) of working and poor families are paying more than they can afford on rent. Housing is typically the largest expense for low-income families. In order to afford a median priced two-bedroom apartment in Richmond today, you need to earn an annual income of $46,200 – or an hourly wage of $22.16.

Who is At Risk of Eviction?

Since 1990, rents in Richmond have gone up an average of 35%. This is no surprise given that Richmond has no form of rent control. It also no surprise that, accordingly, the vast majority of evictions (72%) are due to rent hikes & non-payment of rent.

Poor households, senior households and households with children are most at risk. One way to measure those most at risk of eviction is by measuring what percentage of their income is going to rent. A household is considered “rent over-burdened” if 50% or more of their income goes towards rent. 70% of households earning less than $35,000 suffer from being rent over-burdened. 53% of senior households suffer from being rent over-burdened.

Immigrant households are particularly at risk. Richmond experienced in 89% increase in immigrant populations. There is similar rise in the number of households that speak languages other than English. This population is especially vulnerable to unfair housing practices, including evictions.

African Americans are being driven out. Richmond’s African American population decreased by 7% in the last 10 years. Anecdotal evidence shows that increasing cost of living and of housing in the Richmond and Bay Area overall is a significant factor.

Why Pass a Just Cause Eviction ordinance?

Landlords in Contra Costa County can give tenants 60-day eviction notices for no reason whatsoever. Just Cause Eviction laws protect renters from being unfairly evicted by landlords who want to jack up rents. Just Cause laws give special protections to the elderly, disabled and catastrophically ill, and they ensure that landlords can only evict for good reason (such as property damage, not paying rent, or selling drugs).

Tenants in Contra Costa County’s cities have fewer protections than tenants in other Bay Area cities. Oakland, San Jose, San Francisco, Berkeley, Hayward and Palo Alto have already passed Just Cause eviction ordinances. (Visit www.justcauseoakland.org)

What does a Just Cause ordinance do?

Just Cause ordinances require that landlords have a valid reason if they want to evict a tenant from their home. Currently any tenant can be given a 60-day notice at any time even if they have always been a good tenant and paid their rent on time. Just Cause ordinances protect tenants from discriminatory or retaliatory evictions.

What are considered valid reasons for evictions under Just Cause?

A landlord can lawfully evict a tenant for failing to pay rent, violating the lease agreement or refusing to renew a lease, causing damage to the premises or creating a nuisance, using the unit for an illegal purpose, or denying the landlord access to the property.

An owner may also require a tenant to move out if they wish to use the unit for their principal residence or use the unit for the principal residence of their spouse, domestic partner, child, parent or grandparent. Landlords may also vacate a unit in order to complete repairs for code compliance. Tenants have the right to move back in once the repairs are completed.

Richmond Vision 2000
A project of Contra Costa Faith Works!
Email: faith_works@cclabor.net Phone: (925)228-0191

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JUST CAUSE & FAIR RENT
TOWN HALL MEETING

Saturday May 22nd 2004
12:00 – 2:00pm

Grace Lutheran Church
2369 Barrett Avenue
Richmond, CA

Childcare, refreshments, translation, and transportation will be provided. For more information or to get involved in the Just Cause & Fair Rent Campaign, call Olivia at 925-228-9972 x9.

* It’s time for Richmond to protect the rights of seniors, families with children, immigrants, and people with disabilities!

* It’s time to restabilize our community and provide safeguards for tenants!

* It’s time for retaliatory and discriminatory evictions to end!

Tell people at your work, your meetings, your union, your faith community about the Town Hall Meeting on May 22nd and ask them if they want to come.