Unjust Evictions Have Been Crushing San Mateo Families For Far Too Long. Take action to support a strong Just Cause Ordinance.

Unjust evictions have been crushing San Mateo families for far too long. Not only are evictions traumatizing, they also take away people’s privacy, dignity, and safety. Eviction is one of the primary reasons for homelessness and housing insecurity in the county and has long lasting effects for renters, such as making it more difficult to rent in the future and displacing them from their community. This displacement exacerbates existing inequalities, as low income families and communities of color are often disproportionately affected. When people are forced to move to areas with limited resources or opportunities, it perpetuates economic and social disparities, further dividing the population along these lines. 

It is critical to keep neighbors already housed in their homes. Eviction has profound and long-lasting consequences for physical, mental, and financial health. In a report by the Legal Aid Society of San Mateo County, 50% of households that were evicted through the courts in 2014 experienced at least one period of homelessness afterward. Low-income communities of color, families, immigrants, seniors, and other vulnerable neighbors are the most impacted, however no one is immune from being evicted or experiencing the consequences of eviction. 

We are demanding stronger renter protections for unincorporated San Mateo County, starting with 'Just Cause for Eviction' protections that will help protect tenants from unfair eviction. Just Cause for Eviction protections establish specific reasons a landlord can ask a tenant to leave their home. Existing state law regulating evictions is inadequate – too many renters are excluded, and there are glaring loopholes, allowing landlords to skirt the intent of the law and displace families to increase their own profits. Local just cause policies stabilize communities and prevent displacement, protecting renters from arbitrary, retaliatory, and discriminatory evictions by covering all renters and closing these loopholes.

Please add your name to this petition and join the thousands of renters in San Mateo County advocating for stronger tenant protections in advance of the upcoming Board of Supervisors meeting on November 7th!

Petition made by the San Mateo Anti Displacement Coalition.