Los Angeles County supervisors voted this week to approve a $30 million Emergency Rent Relief Program aimed at helping tenants at risk of eviction after the January wildfires and a wave of workplace immigration raids. The program will launch within 90 days and provide direct rental assistance to low-income households who’ve lost income due to these emergencies. Supervisors also directed County Counsel to explore an eviction moratorium covering tenants impacted by raids or disasters.

The relief comes at a moment of acute crisis for immigrant renters across Los Angeles. Data collected by community groups shows that ICE raids since June 2025 have slashed household income by 62 percent on average, forcing families to spend 91 percent of their income on rent. Nearly 28 percent of surveyed tenants are already more than a month behind on rent, and 95 percent now qualify as severely rent-burdened.

The impact goes beyond lost wages. Twelve percent of respondents reported landlord threats to call ICE if rent was late, while 71 percent said they returned to work despite fear of arrest, simply to avoid eviction. Families have reported losing as much as $2,000 a month in wages since the raids began.

Tenant advocates argue that this data underscores why rent relief alone may not be enough. Without stronger tenant protections, they warn, displacement and homelessness could still accelerate. “With nearly one in four immigrant renters already behind on rent, and most spending almost their entire paycheck just to stay housed, the county must pair emergency aid with eviction protections,” one organizer said.

The Board’s decision to study an eviction moratorium is therefore critical. If implemented, it could provide immediate breathing room for families reeling from sudden income shocks. But the success of the new program will also hinge on speed. Advocates will be watching closely to see how quickly the $30 million reaches tenants, and whether the scale of aid is sufficient in the face of a deepening eviction crisis.