Tuesday, April 28, 2026

LA County Pilot Offers Landlords and Tenants $10,000 and Free Mediation Before Eviction Trials

The $2.1 million program, developed with the Superior Court, launches at the Compton Courthouse as the county agency marks 50 years of service — including in Altadena

Before a judge hears the case, before a tenant loses the apartment, before a landlord absorbs another month of unpaid rent, Los Angeles County wants to put both parties in a room with a mediator and a check.

The Department of Consumer and Business Affairs launched its Eviction Diversion Pilot Program on Monday, a $2.1 million initiative offering free mediation and up to $10,000 per household in rental assistance for unpaid back rent. The program, which DCBA developed with the Superior Court of Los Angeles County, targets the narrow window after an eviction filing but before trial — a period when both landlords and tenants stand to lose time and money, according to a DCBA press release announcing the program.

The pilot begins at the Compton Courthouse, where eligible landlords and tenants can register for services. DCBA, the county agency that enforces rent stabilization protections across unincorporated Los Angeles County — including Altadena and East Pasadena — also maintains a weekly office at the Altadena Community Center for housing services. While the current pilot serves only the Compton Courthouse’s service area, which includes Carson, Compton, Lynwood, Paramount and surrounding unincorporated communities, the program represents the agency’s expanding toolkit for preventing displacement countywide.

“This program is about supporting property owners and their tenants in reaching an agreement for rent-related issues before the matter goes before a judge, saving time and money for everybody,” Los Angeles County Supervisor Holly J. Mitchell said in a statement released by DCBA.

Mitchell represents the 2nd Supervisorial District, which includes Compton. She said in the statement that the partnership between the Superior Court and the county is “another example of how we are collaborating and expanding on diverse tools to keep Angelenos housed.”

Community Legal Aid SoCal, which operates offices in southeast Los Angeles County including Compton, will provide the mediation services. FORWARD Program Management will handle the program’s fiscal administration, according to the press release.

The rules are straightforward, according to DCBA: The dispute must involve unpaid back rent. Both parties must agree to participate. Either the landlord or tenant household must earn at or below 120% of Area Median Income. The rental property must fall within a ZIP code served by the Compton Courthouse. If rental assistance is approved, payments go directly to the landlord.

“Helping people stay housed is at the heart of DCBA’s mission,” Director Rafael Carbajal said in the statement. “This program is about bringing people together to find a path forward that benefits both parties, before the situation escalates.”

The program does not require proof of immigration status, according to DCBA. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis and accepted until funding runs out. Registration does not guarantee mediation or rental assistance.

Presiding Judge Sergio C. Tapia II of the Superior Court of Los Angeles County said in the statement that the pilot “offers free mediation to qualified parties in limited-jurisdiction unlawful detainer cases, helping them resolve disputes before trial and save time and expense.”

DCBA announced the program as it marks its 50th anniversary. The agency opened on April 15, 1976, as the Department of Consumer Affairs, and the Board of Supervisors proclaimed the anniversary earlier this month, according to a separate DCBA announcement. The department, which Carbajal has led since January 2021, now oversees rent stabilization, tenant protections, consumer fraud investigations and the county’s Right to Counsel program, which provides free legal representation to eligible tenants in unincorporated areas — including Altadena.

Landlords and tenants in the Compton Courthouse area who want to learn more can visit programs-forwardplatform.org/eviction-diversion-pilot-program or call 855-582-3979 for application assistance. Additional DCBA housing resources are available at rent.lacounty.gov.

The program launched Monday. The money will last until it doesn’t.