Hayward Legal Services
Preventing displacement for tenants in Hayward
The Hayward Expansion Program launched
in July 2023 with temporary funding from
the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA).
Centro Legal de la Raza (Centro Legal),
Housing and Economic Rights Advocates
(HERA), and My Eden Voice (MEV)
partnered to deliver anti-displacement
legal and supportive services to
low-income, historically underserved
tenants residing in Hayward.
Our prevention model emphasizes early
intervention to resolve housing issues and
eliminate the threat of displacement before court
proceedings are initiated
● Legal Representation: Full-scope
representation in eviction proceedings,
including drafting legal pleadings, filing
motions, conducting discovery, engaging in
settlement negotiations, and providing trial
representation when necessary.
● Legal Consultation: Limited-scope services
such as reviewing eviction notices and rent
increase notices, drafting demand letters, and
offering detailed legal advice on matters
including unlawful eviction threats, habitability
violations, subsidized housing issues, and
landlord harassment.
● Education & Outreach: Know-your-rights
presentations, training and capacity-building
for leaders and service providers to expand
outreach and tenant engagement, flyering
outreach, and distribution of informational
materials to increase tenant awareness and
capacity, including on Hayward’s Rent
Stabilization and Tenant Protection Ordinance.
96% of tenants provided with legal
representation reached a favorable
resolution.
For clients facing eviction, successful outcomes included remaining in their homes or securing additional time and resources to support a safe transition. These interventions directly contributed to preventing homelessness and reducing future housing instability.
110 Tenants received legal consultation
23 Tenants received legal representation
11 KYR Workshops
180 Attended KYR Workshops
13 Resident leaders trained in engagement
3,231 Tenants engaged with legal resources
6,004 Flyers distributed
FY 23-25 Legal Representation Case Outcomes
48%
30%
9%
9%
4%
"Soft landing" move-out
Prevented loss of
current housing
Prevented/ended unfair
or illegal behavior
Enforced rights to safe
and stable housing
Referred to Private
Attorney
Attachment III
Legal services are critical for vulnerable
residents in Hayward, who face the highest
risks of homelessness but are often the least
aware of available resources.
52% of all clients served faced the threat of
eviction, either through receiving a notice to
end tenancy or an Unlawful Detainer (eviction)
Workshop evaluations show that 84% of
participants gained knowledge and felt more
prepared to navigate local and state tenant
protections.
Legal consultations helped keep multiple
tenants stably housed by empowering them to
assert their rights. Unfortunately, "informal
evictions"—where tenants leave after eviction
threats—are common, especially in
marginalized communities. These
consultations are crucial to combat
misinformation and prevent such evictions.
At-risk populations
➔ 100% Low-income
➔ 72% Extremely Low Income
➔ 91% BIPOC (Black/African American,
Indigenous, and People of Color)
➔ 45% Disabled/Special Needs
➔ 19% Female-Headed Households
➔ 15% Elderly Household
Client story: My Eden Voice (MEV) supported Mr. J, an older, monolingual Spanish-speaking tenant who had been enduring unsafe living conditions due to his landlord’s ongoing failure to make critical repairs to his unit. When MEV outreach staff conducted door-to-door engagement in his neighborhood, they met Mr. J and shared information about tenants’ rights and available legal resources. At the time, Mr. J expressed deep frustration and a sense of hopelessness. MEV took the time to explain his legal protections as a tenant - particularly around habitability standards and the landlord’s responsibility to provide safe and livable housing.
They connected him to Housing and Economic Rights Advocates (HERA), where he was able to receive a legal consultation. For Mr. J, this connection was a turning point, offering the critical support he had long hoped for and empowering him to begin asserting his rights.
This program has been instrumental in expanding access to housing legal services for tenants in Hayward, successfully embedding tenants' rights knowledge and increasing access to justice. While the program is ending, the strengthened relationships between Centro Legal, HERA, and MEV with the community will endure.
We remain committed to supporting tenants in these areas to achieve healthy, stable, and affordable housing.
Client Demographics
Hispanic
57%Black/African
American
24%
Native
Hawaiian/Pacific
Islander - 2%
White - 9%
Other/
Multi-Racial - 11%