A motion approved by the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday seeks to address Southern California's affordable housing shortage by expanding the pool of potential buyers.
A "tenant opportunity to purchase act," or TOPA, would apply to unincorporated areas of L.A. County and establish "new rights which would create pathways to ownership," Ruby Rivera of the Eastside community-based nonprofit InnerCity Struggle told KNX.
Those pathways would open up to rental tenants, "mission-driven affordable housing developers, community land trusts and any other person or entity that is committed to providing permanent affordable housing," a statement from the office of County Board of Supervisors Chair Hilda Solis said.
The motion directs the county's Department of Consumer and Business Affairs to work with the L.A. County Development Authority, Department of Regional Planning, and County Council to work with community members to develop recommendations for a more concrete TOPA policy down the line.
Participating county agencies will report back on findings in 90 days. During that period, they will review existing programs and administrative policies, as well as staffing needs and hypothetical operations for an L.A. County TOPA program.
To view the full motion, click here.