Reclaiming Our Homes(ROH): Eviction Emergency Expenses

Update (June 10, 2024):

Greetings from Reclaiming Our Homes (ROH):

We are requiring donations because we are getting displaced, food, shelter, and other expenses.

ROH is composed of 12 families, who were unhoused for many years. We with a mixture of organizational spontaneity reclaimed 12 abandoned Caltrans houses in El Sereno. At the start of the Covid19 pandemic March 2020. We gave identity and leadership to this movement by coordinating a campaign for permanent housing. Essentially aiming to create change in society, politics & economics; by campaigning & protesting and advocating for permanent housing as opposed to transitional-interim housing.

(Cici, Emille, Maria & Benito outside Cindy house on Poplar Blvd)

As many of you already know, governor Newsom gave the mandate to shelter in place. Since ROH families were homeless we took action to protect ourselves against the pandemic and the elements. We decided to reclaim the defunct 710 extension freeway abandoned & forsaken Caltrans’ houses. Some of them have been abandoned for more than 20 years.

(Benito outside his home on Shelley st)

6 months later HACLA offered a 2 years short term transitional housing program agreement. Which we signed under duress. Under the threat of “you sign or go to live on the street”. As for many weeks, even months after reclaiming, California Highway Patrol(CHP), parked outside our homes causing intimidation and distress. But governor Newsom gave the order not to evict us.

WE ARE NOT “CRIMINAL TRESPASSERS”. CALTRANS HAD THE CHANCE TO ACCUSE US OF TRESPASSING BUT EFUSED TO DO IT,

NOW CALTRANS BETTER SHUT UP.

(Martha and her 2 daughter outside har house on Sheffield Ave)

We signed a contract with HACLA that legalized our occupation. Plus the statute of limitations makes it illegal to accuse us of trespassing now.

After 2 years as occupants, we acquired the first priority right to buy or rent in accordance with the Roberti law. ROH has filed a Civil Rights suit to validate this Roberti Rights.

But people like Tina Booth, Senator Durazo, HACLA and Caltrans are cruel, selfish and envious. They suffered a strong stomach ache by knowing that poor homeless people could benefit from the Roberti law, which was created precisely as a law to mitigate the damage caused to the community of El Sereno.

(Sandra holding her Unlawful Detainer notice)

The contract ended up eventually so we are getting evicted.

We are fighting against our evictions in court.

We have managed to get pro bono attorneys, but still the court expenses are expensive and high.

(Maria and her dog Fluffy(RIP) outside her house)

Reclaimers were originally 13, but now we have grown to include other families that also are being evicted by HACLA.

(Caltrans and its many abandoned houses)

"We will no longer be silenced! We saw something wrong in our community. Unlike everyone else that noticed the homelessness - they chose to complain, or ignore, and allow it. We took it upon ourselves to do something. This became Reclaiming Our Homes."