Facing a housing problem can be stressful, particularly when your landlord has served an eviction notice, refused necessary repairs, or threatened your tenancy.
Los Angeles has several nonprofit legal organizations, tenant advocacy groups, and community programs that may provide free or low-cost housing assistance. Some offer legal representation, while others provide advice, referrals, tenant education, or help preparing court documents.
Use the directory below to find the type of assistance you need. Eligibility, service areas, fees, and appointment availability vary by organization.
Important: ProTenant.org provides housing information, not individualized legal advice. If you've received eviction court papers, seek assistance immediately. Court response deadlines can be short.
Find Legal Help by Category
| Legal Help Directory | |
|---|---|
| Facing Eviction? | Free & Low-Cost Legal Services |
| Housing Discrimination | Tenant Advocacy & Support |
| Finding the Right Assistance | Before Contacting an Organization |
Facing Eviction? Start Here
If you've received a notice to pay rent, a notice terminating your tenancy, or court papers for an unlawful detainer lawsuit, these organizations are useful starting points.
Receiving a notice from your landlord is different from being served with a court lawsuit. If you've received a Summons and Complaint, consult the California Courts eviction response instructions to determine your filing deadline. In many cases involving personal service, tenants have 10 court days to respond.
| Organization & Contact | How They Can Help |
|---|---|
|
Stay Housed LA
Phone: (888) 694-0040 |
Free tenant-rights workshops, eviction defense assistance, and legal representation for eligible Los Angeles County renters.
A strong first contact if you've received an eviction lawsuit or qualifying housing subsidy termination notice. |
|
Legal Aid Foundation of Los Angeles (LAFLA)
Phone: (800) 399-4529 |
Legal assistance involving evictions, illegal lockouts, housing conditions, and other tenant matters.
Services may include legal advice, help preparing responses, and representation depending on eligibility and case circumstances. |
|
Eviction Defense Network (EDN)
Phone: (213) 385-8112 207 S. Broadway, 6th Floor, Los Angeles, CA 90012 |
Specialized assistance for renters facing eviction, landlord pressure, or unlawful detainer proceedings.
Offers tenant education, legal guidance, and eviction defense services. Check its website for current in-person intake requirements. |
|
Shriver Housing Self-Help Center
Remote assistance: (818) 492-5211 Stanley Mosk Courthouse, Room 115, 111 N. Hill Street, Los Angeles |
Assists self-represented tenants with eviction court procedures, legal information, and preparing responses.
Check current hours and eligibility before visiting. Legal information and self-help assistance are not necessarily the same as having an attorney represent you. |
Free & Low-Cost Tenant Legal Services
These nonprofit organizations assist qualifying renters with housing disputes, eviction defense, unsafe rental conditions, and related legal problems. Some offer direct representation, while others provide advice or referrals.
| Organization & Contact | How They Can Help |
|---|---|
|
Bet Tzedek Legal Services
Phone: (323) 939-0506 |
Free legal services for qualifying individuals and families, including older adults and renters experiencing housing problems.
Housing assistance may involve eviction prevention, legal advice, and representation depending on the case. |
|
Neighborhood Legal Services of Los Angeles County (NLSLA)
Phone: (800) 433-6251 |
Legal assistance for tenants dealing with evictions, unsafe conditions, illegal rent increases, disability accommodations, housing discrimination, and subsidized housing disputes.
Provides services in eligible areas of Los Angeles County. |
|
Inner City Law Center (ICLC)
Phone: (213) 891-2880 |
Legal assistance for qualifying low-income renters, including eviction defense, landlord harassment, habitability problems, and housing-related discrimination.
The organization also assists people experiencing or at risk of homelessness. |
|
Coalition for Economic Survival (CES)
Phone: (213) 252-4411 |
Tenant-rights counseling and education involving rent control, evictions, repairs, security deposits, and landlord harassment.
Offers a tenants' rights clinic with volunteer attorneys. Registration is required; see its website for details. |
| California State Bar — Lawyer Referral Services |
Find a state-certified lawyer referral service if you don't qualify for free legal assistance or need a private attorney.
Referral services can help connect you with a lawyer experienced in your particular type of legal problem. |
Housing Discrimination & Fair Housing Assistance
Federal and California fair housing laws protect renters against unlawful discrimination. These organizations can help with complaints involving protected characteristics, disability accommodations, and other fair housing concerns.
| Organization & Contact | How They Can Help |
|---|---|
|
Housing Rights Center (HRC)
Phone: (800) 477-5977 |
Free housing counseling, fair housing education, and investigation of possible housing discrimination.
Assists renters with concerns involving disability, reasonable accommodations, familial status, and other fair housing protections. |
|
Asian Americans Advancing Justice Southern California
English hotline: (888) 349-9695 |
Free or low-cost legal advice for housing-related issues, with particular experience assisting immigrant communities and people with limited English proficiency.
Offers multilingual intake and may provide legal representation in qualifying cases. |
| California Civil Rights Department |
Official state agency for information about unlawful housing discrimination and filing a civil rights complaint.
Useful when a tenant believes a housing provider has violated California fair housing laws. |
Tenant Advocacy, Education & Community Support
Not every housing problem requires immediate court representation. Some renters need help understanding their rights, organizing with neighbors, documenting housing conditions, or finding appropriate referrals.
The following organizations focus on tenant advocacy and community assistance. Their services should not be confused with guaranteed individual legal representation.
| Organization & Contact | How They Can Help |
|---|---|
|
Inquilinos Unidos (United Tenants)
Phone: (213) 483-7497 |
Tenant organizing, education, advocacy, and consultations involving repairs, unsafe housing, illegal evictions, and rent increases.
Works extensively with low-income renters and immigrant communities in Los Angeles. |
|
Strategic Actions for a Just Economy (SAJE)
Phone: (213) 745-9961 |
Tenant education, housing justice advocacy, and help understanding rental rights.
Offers tenant clinics and community organizing. Check the current clinic schedule before visiting. |
|
Alliance of Californians for Community Empowerment (ACCE)
Phone: (213) 863-4548 |
Community organizing, tenant-rights education, eviction prevention advocacy, and housing policy campaigns.
Its Los Angeles chapter offers tenant clinics and organizing support. |
|
Unión de Vecinos
Phone: (323) 908-3454 |
Grassroots tenant organizing and community assistance, particularly in East Los Angeles and surrounding neighborhoods.
Contact the organization to confirm its current assistance schedule and available services. |
|
Los Angeles Community Action Network (LA-CAN)
Phone: (213) 228-0024 |
Community organizing and housing advocacy for low-income residents, particularly in Downtown and South Los Angeles.
Focuses on housing conditions, tenant organizing, homelessness, and community rights. |
How to Find the Right Kind of Assistance
Not sure whom to contact first? The type of problem you're experiencing can help narrow your options.
| Your Situation | Where to Start |
|---|---|
| You've received eviction court papers. | Stay Housed LA, LAFLA, or Eviction Defense Network. Check your court deadline immediately. |
| Your landlord refuses necessary repairs. | Contact LAHD if the property is within its jurisdiction, and consider NLSLA for legal assistance. |
| You're experiencing landlord harassment. | Seek legal advice from Bet Tzedek or Inner City Law Center. City of Los Angeles tenants may also report violations to LAHD. |
| You believe you've experienced housing discrimination. | Start with the Housing Rights Center or California Civil Rights Department. |
| You want to organize with other tenants. | Contact Inquilinos Unidos, SAJE, or ACCE. |
| You need a private attorney. | Use a California State Bar-certified lawyer referral service. |
Before Contacting a Legal Assistance Organization
Having a few important details ready can help an organization understand your situation and determine what services may be available.
| Information to Prepare | Why It Matters |
|---|---|
| Your city and rental address | Determines which local laws and service areas may apply. |
| A brief description of the problem | Helps the organization identify the kind of assistance you need. |
| Notices, letters, and court documents | Helps identify legal issues, required responses, and deadlines. |
| Important dates and communications | Provides a timeline of the dispute and previous attempts to resolve it. |
| Income or household information, if requested | Some legal aid programs have financial or other eligibility requirements. |
When contacting an organization, ask whether it handles your type of case, whether you qualify for assistance, whether there is a fee, and whether an appointment is required.
Remember: Contacting a legal organization does not automatically extend court deadlines. Do not wait for an appointment if you must file a response with the court.
Additional Tenant Resources
For a plain-English explanation of the eviction process, visit our Los Angeles Eviction Guide.
For official housing agencies, complaint procedures, and additional services, visit our Tenant Resources Directory.
You can also explore our Tenant Rights Guide and free tenant printables.
Have a General Tenant-Rights Question?
If you're researching a housing issue and would like to suggest a topic for future ProTenant.org coverage, visit our Ask a Question page.
For publication or website inquiries, email hello@protenant.org.
ProTenant.org is an independent housing news publication. We do not represent tenants, provide attorney-client consultations, or offer individualized legal advice.
Last reviewed: November 2026. This directory is provided for general informational purposes. The organizations listed are independent from ProTenant.org. Service availability, eligibility, contact information, locations, hours, and fees may change. Verify current details directly with each organization. See our Disclaimer.
