State Sen. Nancy Skinner introduces bill to offer legal aid for at-risk tenants

Tuesday, December 11, 2018

State Sen. Nancy Skinner, D-Berkeley, announced Monday the unveiling of SB 18, which seeks to expand state funding and offer rental assistance and legal aid to help California residents who are at risk of displacement.

Co-authored by State Sen. Scott Wiener, D-San Francisco, Assemblymember Rob Bonta, D-Oakland, and Assemblymember Buffy Wicks, D-Oakland, SB 18 is modeled after the program Keeping Oakland Housed, which aims to prevent Oakland residents from losing their homes, according to a press release.

“(SB 18)’s focus is to expand funding to provide rental assistance and legal services so we can prevent homelessness before it starts,” Skinner said. “It is much more beneficial, effective and economic to do what we can to keep people housed.”