For two and a half years, Latia Stevenson has been trying to find permanent housing for herself and her six children. Instead, the family has moved between homeless shelters and motels, never knowing how long they will be able to stay in one place.
Now, with the holidays approaching, Stevenson says her family is facing another move after being removed from a homeless housing program. She believes the decision was retaliation for reporting problems at a shelter where they had been staying.
The organizations involved dispute her account.
The family's situation, reported by FOX 11 Los Angeles on December 6, highlights the uncertainty families can experience even after entering programs intended to help them escape homelessness.
Two and a Half Years Without a Permanent Home
Stevenson and her children, who range in age from 2 to 16, are currently staying at a Motel 6 in Gardena.
Their journey through Los Angeles County's homeless services system has included repeated moves between shelters and temporary lodging.
According to Stevenson, the latest disruption began while the family was living at the Comunidad Cesar Chavez shelter.
She told FOX 11 that she documented and reported serious concerns about conditions and incidents affecting her family. She believes those complaints led to her removal from the program.
Stevenson described the experience as retaliation for speaking up.
But the housing program disputes that explanation. According to FOX 11, the program maintained that Stevenson was removed because she had declined an offer of housing through the federal Section 8 voucher program.
Stevenson rejected that account.
She said she had already signed a lease for a rental property, but the landlord subsequently declined to accept her after learning that she had six children.
FOX 11 did not independently establish which account was correct, and the circumstances surrounding the proposed rental remain disputed.
Another Motel Move, Another Deadline
After leaving the shelter, Stevenson and her children began moving between motels.
She said program rules limited how long the family could remain at a particular location, creating another cycle of packing, relocating and adjusting to unfamiliar surroundings.
At the time of the December 6 report, the family had been expected to leave their motel on Friday, December 5.
They received an extension until Wednesday, December 10, but had no clear indication of where they would go afterward.
For a family of seven, moving is no small undertaking.
Clothing, school supplies, personal belongings and children's everyday necessities all have to be packed and transported. Each relocation also means adjusting to a different environment.
The instability is especially difficult for children who need predictable routines and space for schoolwork, hobbies and rest.
Stevenson wants something much simpler than another temporary placement: a home where her children can settle without facing another sudden move.
The Children Have Already Lost More Than Housing Stability
Stevenson's children are involved in art, animation, music and dance.
One of her teenage sons creates digital artwork and animation, while the siblings also participate in an African drum and dance group.
These activities are important parts of their lives, providing creative outlets during a period of considerable uncertainty.
But the family's belongings have also suffered during their repeated moves.
According to FOX 11, artwork, equipment and personal possessions were damaged or destroyed when the family moved to the Gardena motel during a storm.
For children who create art, losing supplies or finished work can be especially upsetting. Those belongings represent time, effort and something personal that belongs to them, even when their living arrangements keep changing.
Stevenson told the station that she wanted her children to have peace of mind and a safe place to keep their artwork.
Her concern isn't just about where the family will sleep next week. It's about giving her children the stability to continue developing their interests and enjoying their childhood.
Housing Organizations Dispute the Retaliation Claim
FOX 11 contacted the organizations connected to the family's housing services.
LA Family Housing, PATH and the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority issued a joint statement explaining that they could not discuss confidential details concerning individual program participants.
The organizations said they operate under established guidelines and work together to provide housing assistance, appropriate services and support for people seeking stable housing.
They also emphasized their commitment to treating program participants with dignity.
Their statement did not address the specific allegations in detail.
That leaves an important disagreement unresolved: Stevenson says she was penalized for raising concerns, while the program disputes that characterization and points to an alleged refusal of Section 8 housing.
Without additional records or independent findings, it isn't possible to determine whether retaliation occurred.
Dr. Kridikel TruthBey, an independent case manager working with the family, criticized the handling of their situation and called for greater accountability.
TruthBey said the priority should be ensuring that the children have a stable environment rather than subjecting them to repeated moves.
When Temporary Housing Never Becomes Permanent
The Stevenson family's experience points to a broader challenge in homelessness services.
Emergency shelters and motel placements can provide immediate protection for families who have nowhere else to go. But temporary accommodation is supposed to be a step toward something more stable.
When families remain in the system for years, each additional move can become another disruption rather than meaningful progress.
Los Angeles County's Coordinated Entry System for Families is intended to connect families experiencing homelessness with services and housing opportunities. Families can seek assistance through 211 LA, which provides referrals to Family Solutions Centers and other resources.
Those programs, however, do not guarantee that suitable permanent housing will be immediately available.
For larger families, finding an affordable rental with adequate space can be particularly difficult.
A household with six children may need more bedrooms and a larger unit than many available rentals provide. Even when rental assistance is available, finding a property that meets the family's needs can remain a challenge.
The circumstances of Stevenson's attempted Section 8 placement are disputed, but her family's continued housing instability is clear.
A Home for the Holidays Is Still Uncertain
With Christmas approaching, Stevenson is seeking help through a fundraising campaign intended to support the family's search for stable housing.
She hopes her children can eventually have a permanent home where they can keep their belongings, pursue their artistic interests and stop worrying about where they will sleep.
At the time of FOX 11's December 6 report, the family still faced a December 10 deadline to leave its temporary motel placement.
What happens next remains uncertain.
The allegations involving the housing program deserve careful examination, but the family's immediate need is straightforward.
After two and a half years of moving between shelters and motels, Stevenson and her children are still looking for the stability that permanent housing is supposed to provide.
And for six children approaching another holiday season without a place to call their own, that uncertainty is more than a housing problem. It's part of their everyday lives.
Sources
Original reporting: Chelsea Edwards, FOX 11 Los Angeles, December 6, 2025. Mom of 6 Claims Retaliation by Homeless Program Forced Her Family to Move.
Housing assistance background: 211 LA — Coordinated Entry System for Families.
This article is based on previously published interviews and statements. ProTenant.org did not independently interview the Stevenson family or the organizations involved. Allegations about retaliation and the attempted rental placement remain disputed.
