At a demonstration on July 16 in front of an apartment building in Hollywood, Venice Community Housing joined with Keeping Neighborhoods First, the Los Angeles Alliance for a New Economy (LAANE), Unite Here, the Southern California Association of NonProfit Houses (SCANPH) and other community groups to demand that the City take action to protect rental housing in Los Angeles from being converted into transient occupancy commercial businesses, often referred to as short term rentals or vacation rentals. (View the LA Times Article here) Short term rentals in Los Angeles are considered hotels and are now illegal in most residential communities, but the City has until recently turned a blind eye to these conversions.
 

In a recent report, LAANE estimates that over 7000 rental units have been taken off the market city wide based upon evaluation of only one of several platforms which advertise short term rentals. VCH estimates that there are now over 2000 short term rentals in Venice. That is probably 15% of the entire rental housing stock in our community. These conversions put upward pressure on the rental rates of the remaining rental housing stock as well as eliminating permanent rental housing in our community.  And to the extent that the rental housing lost was occupied by long term tenants at below market rents, the loss of that housing means the permanent loss of affordability.

Santa Monica recently passed an ordinance which prohibits short term rentals entirely and permits home sharing only when the host is present. And on June 2, 2016, Councilman Mike Bonin introduced a motion to forbid short term rental of any dwelling unit that is not the primary residence of the host. 

Venice Community Housing supports Councilman Bonin's motion and encourages the City to follow Santa Monica's example and require that the host to be present during the rental period or, if the host is not present (e.g. the host wants to rent out his/her home while s/he is on vacation) that the period of time of absence be limited. Because the City lacks the resources to effectively enforce such an ordinance, VCH also recommends that the public as well as the City be given the right to enforce the law.

Once Again, Thanks Google!

A second group of Google volunteers teamed up to help renovate and rehabilitate another VCH property on Brooks Ave. in Venice.  [In June, Google Volunteers painted and constructed patio items for our Inglewood Blvd. building.  See Volunteer Corner, June VCH Newsletter.]  Max Harris set up the project and put out the call.  Five volunteers signed up to paint and install fencing, frames and gates.

            As shown in the photos below, it took some exertion and know-how, but the project was completed under the direction of VCH's Clarence Dorsey and with the assistance of VCH helpers.  The premises are now greatly improved, directly benefiting the residents, thanks to these volunteers.  VCH appreciates their efforts and thanks Google and its employees!

Google volunteers Michael Rosett [l.] and Matt Golden [r.] paint a rear gate.  Photo:  Jack Prichett

Summer Mentoring, Teaching Opportunities Available for Volunteers

In the summertime, the livin' is easy-and learning proceeds at VCH.  A summer session for youth, the Academy, is available for students wishing to get grounded in basic subjects such as English, history, mathematics.

            Volunteers maximize benefits by engaging with students on a one-to-one basis, as pictured below, giving individual attention to specific needs and requirements.  In the photo, Rosalie Gamache [l.], a summer student, receives instruction from Volunteer Judy Branfman [r.] on the basics of English and sentence structure.  Rosalie hopes to be accepted in to the upcoming YouthBuild program.  

            Judy Branfman volunteers weekly for 2 hours, helping out in various subject areas.   VCH welcomes applications to mentor and assist students like Rosalie.  Thanks to all volunteers for this very rewarding work.

If you're interested in volunteering, learn more about our volunteer opportunities by clicking