LAHD celebrated completion of the 1000th accessible unit in its Accessible Housing Program with disability rights advocates and partners - Communities Actively Living Independent and Free (CALIF), the Independent Living Center of Southern California (ILCSC), Disability Rights California, and Relman Colfax PLLC. This marks a significant milestone in the journey towards citywide disability rights and providing independent living units for Angelenos with disabilities, and is the result of years of collaboration, hard work, and advocacy.

“LAHD is happy to celebrate this milestone of the 1000th accessible unit in the City of Los Angeles," said Ann Sewill, General Manager of LAHD. "Providing affordable, accessible housing creates opportunities far beyond the housing itself; ensuring people can live, work, and build communities together."

"Accessible and safe housing is essential to the well-being of all individuals,” said Keith Miller, Executive Director of CALIF. “Because of the work done by Lillibeth (the late founder of CALIF) and CALIF, we have witnessed many individuals with disabilities go from living on the streets or in institutions to living independently in a healthier and safer community of their choosing. They no longer have to feel dependent on others to help them meet their personal daily needs.”

While many people contributed to this milestone, the tireless efforts of Lilibeth Navarro deserve special attention. Lilibeth, the Founder and Executive Director of CALIF, passed away in September 2023 after decades of pushing for greater community inclusion of people with disabilities. She was an active part of the litigation and groundbreaking settlement that reshaped the way accessibility is incorporated into the design and operation of affordable housing in Los Angeles.

“The Independent Living Center of Southern California is committed to serving persons with disabilities and their needs for both accessible and affordable housing throughout the City and County of Los Angeles. Therefore, we acknowledge this initial milestone, and we look forward to the expedited continuation of these efforts by the City of Los Angeles,” said Norma Vescovo, CEO and Executive Director at ILC of Southern California.

In 2016, ILCSC, CALIF and others, represented by Relman Colfax and co-counsel Disability Rights California, sued the City of Los Angeles for not adequately meeting accessibility requirements in its affordable housing projects. The parties entered into a settlement agreement with the City, resulting in the most rigorous largest accessible housing program in the nation’s history. That settlement ensured the construction and rental of at least 4,000 highly accessible housing units, significantly impacting the lives of people with disabilities throughout the city.

“One thousand new accessible units in Los Angeles bring the disability community many steps closer to full community integration,” said Michael Allen, a partner at Relman Colfax who has remained deeply involved in the implementation of the settlement. “When the City has fulfilled all of its settlement obligations, Los Angeles will have the most accessible affordable housing portfolio in the country and will be a model for other big cities.”

While reaching this 1,000-unit milestone is an important milestone, much work remains to be done. The timely addition of 3,000 highly accessible affordable rental housing units will allow Angelenos with disabilities to transition out of institutional settings and reconnect with their communities. Meanwhile, the settlement participants have collaborated closely with the City throughout the years to develop innovative housing management policies, ensuring that accessible units are allocated to tenants who need the most. This partnership underscores a shared commitment to creating an inclusive and equitable society for all residents of Los Angeles.

As we celebrate this critical step, we reaffirm our dedication to advancing disability rights and ensuring access to affordable, accessible housing for all. Together, we will continue to advocate for a more inclusive and accessible future for the city of Los Angeles.