ULA Income Support Program – Paul’s Story

After years of hardship worsened by the COVID-19 pandemic, Paul, a 58-year-old tenant in a rent-controlled one-bedroom home in Valley Village, faced a mounting crisis. A devastating divorce, worsening diabetes that led to irreversible nerve damage, and the inability to work left him with more than $16,000 in rental debt. Multiple eviction notices for nonpayment forced him to search for free eviction prevention resources. Thanks to prior tenants’ rights advice, he quickly responded, negotiating a repayment plan with his landlord. Still, the burden of debt weighed on him, dominating his thoughts morning and night.

Then, in early February 2025, relief arrived. Paul received an email confirming that his ULA Emergency Short-Term Assistance Program application had qualified for the new ULA Income Assistance Program (ISP). As part of ULA’s broader effort to prevent and end homelessness in Los Angeles, this first-of-its-kind pilot provides one-time financial aid to approximately 500 eligible low-income renter households—including seniors and individuals with disabilities—at risk of displacement. The program is a key component of ULA’s Homelessness Prevention initiatives.

“Stress is not good for anybody, but, for a diabetic, stress can make your diabetes out of control” Paul said, “and getting this financial help is exhaling months and months of stress.”

The ULA Income Assistance Program (ISP) aims to prevent displacement and promote housing stability by addressing income instability. Building on previous efforts, including the BIG:LEAP program — the City’s pilot initiative which guaranteed basic income – ULA ISP contributes to ongoing research that focuses on the impact of basic income programs at local, state, and federal levels. Ultimately, it seeks to uplift Los Angeles’ most vulnerable residents, connecting them to essential resources, supporting their path to financial security, stabilizing their housing, and improving their overall well-being.

Eligible households had an average monthly rent of $1,793 and rental arrears averaging $20,849 in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. ULA ISP participants receive free benefits screenings and tax consultations through the Legal Aid Foundation of Los Angeles (LAFLA), ensuring they have the necessary information to make informed decisions about program participation. Legal services are provided pro bono through a partnership between LAHD, LAFLA, and Change Well Project, with support from United Way of Greater Los Angeles.

In reflecting on his participation in the ULA ISP, Paul shared, “I’ve been in a really dark place, especially at the beginning of 2023. It was a very dark time. With the right help, you could get out of any dark situation, you just need people to help you find the direction you need to go. If you follow those directions, you can come out of almost any situation in a positive light.”

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