Korean homeless residents face eviction from LA-subsidized housing

Several Korean homeless eviction cases in Los Angeles’ Koreatown are drawing attention after tenants living in city-supported housing were suddenly ordered to leave. The notices, issued in April by the Koreatown Youth and Community Center (KYCC), a nonprofit affiliated with the city’s Time-Limited Subsidy (TLS) program, have triggered a dispute involving the tenants, the landlord, and the managing nonprofit.

The controversy centers on two single-family homes near 11th Street and Irolo Street in Koreatown, where seven Korean homeless individuals reside. On April 22, tenants received written eviction notices from KYCC, stating that rental payments had stopped following the end of the TLS program. The letter warned that continued occupancy could result in a formal eviction on public record, which could severely impact future housing opportunities.

The letter advised residents to vacate the premises within 3 to 7 days, or face legal eviction proceedings. As of June 29, the tenants remained in the homes due to delays in negotiations between KYCC and the landlord over the next steps.

Tenant Myung-oh Jeon said, “We were handed a piece of paper with no explanation. No one here received any real help—just an order to leave.”

The TLS program, operated by the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority (LAHSA), provides gradually decreasing rental subsidies over 12 months to help homeless individuals transition to permanent housing. KYCC serves as a service provider but does not own or manage the housing.

According to TLS rules, eviction authority lies with the property owner, not KYCC. However, KYCC defended the notice, saying it was not a formal eviction but a communication intended to relocate tenants to other shelters. The nonprofit said it had proposed alternative housing options, which were declined.

KYCC cited several reasons for the notice: the end of TLS funding, tenant violations of program rules, and neighborhood complaints related to drug activity.

KYCC clarified that it is responsible for case management and service referrals—not property maintenance. In contrast, the landlord asserted that KYCC had not communicated the end of funding until contacted directly in March and has not paid rent since.

A landlord representative said, “We weren’t even aware the program ended. We found out only after contacting KYCC. They stopped paying rent and now deny responsibility.”

Another resident, Hyun Park, expressed concern over unresolved maintenance and safety issues, such as broken toilets and intruders. “No one responded, but now they want to kick us out by citing the rules,” he said. “We have nowhere else to go.”

The standoff highlights gaps in program oversight and communication between nonprofits, landlords, and vulnerable tenants—raising broader questions about the effectiveness and accountability of city-backed homelessness programs.

 

*What is the TLS Program?

TLS is a housing subsidy initiative launched by LAHSA in 2022 by merging earlier rapid rehousing programs. The program had a total budget of $47.1 million for the 2024–25 fiscal year, with an additional $9.5 million allocated for staff and administrative costs.

BY HANKIL KANG   [kang.hankil@koreadaily.com]