For many LA County residents, the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has been a crisis which could only be resolved with external help. Throughout the entire emergency response, County residents have been able to resolve large and small legal disputes with the support of a professional, free and neutral mediator.
Mediation has been especially helpful for landlords and tenants working through eviction disputes. By using free mediation services provided by LA County’s Department of Consumer and Business Affairs (DCBA), many landlords and tenants have been able to avoid the costly process of eviction as well as the stress of housing instability. When COVID-19 health and safety protocols forced a shift in schedules, the Department increased the availability of mediation services. These services provided a viable alternative to court that met the needs of many potential litigants. Through telephone or virtual meeting consultations with a trained dispute resolution mediator, residents were able to find an amicable solution to their disputes. In fact, in some cases, disputes were resolved in less than one day.
“You’ve been critical to helping connect potential litigants with rental assistance programs, to mediating disputes, and if necessary, to representing the unrepresented in court.”
From remarks by Vanita Gupta, Associate Attorney General
In addition to saving lives and helping slow the spread of COVID-19, these vital mediation services have also gained nationwide acclaim. One of DCBA’s partners, the Loyola Center for Conflict Resolution (LCCR), was recognized by United States Attorney General Merrick Garland, Associate U.S. Attorney General Vanita Gupta, and Second Gentleman of the United States Doug Emhoff for assisting both landlords and tenants in finding alternatives to eviction. This included providing referrals to legal service providers to help residents apply for federal housing assistance, and when appropriate, to using the Center’s mediation services. LCCR has also prepared for additional client support in anticipation of the end of COVID-19 Emergency Tenant Protections.
Mediation aligns with DCBA’s commitment to support residents, businesses, and consumers.
Free mediation services are available to all LA County residents through a network of nine non-profit organizations with a history of serving the County’s most vulnerable residents. Funded by the California Dispute Resolution Programs Act and administered by the County’s Department of Consumer and Business Affairs (DCBA), these organizations provide speedy legal alternatives in local communities.
The participating mediation programs listed below are ready to help all County residents reach mutual solutions to their disputes:
- California Lawyers for the Arts: (310) 207-0001;
- Asian Pacific American Dispute Resolution Center: (213) 250-8190
- California Conference for Equality and Justice: (562) 435-8184
- Center for Conflict Resolution: (818) 705-1090
- Centinela Youth Services: (310) 970-7702
- Korean American Coalition: (213) 383-4290
- Loyola Center for Conflict Resolution: (213) 736-1145
- Office of the Los Angeles City Attorney; (213) 978-1880;
- Los Angeles County Department of Consumer and Business Affairs: (800) 593-8222
