LA Awards $106M to Nonprofit Whose Lawyers Hinder City's Homeless Cleanup Efforts

Legal Aid Foundation of Los Angeles receives massive city contract despite repeatedly suing to block encampment removals and property seizures.

Mar. 12, 2026 at 12:19am

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The city of Los Angeles has awarded a $106.6 million contract to the Legal Aid Foundation of Los Angeles (LAFLA), a nonprofit law firm whose attorneys have spent years suing the city over efforts to dismantle homeless encampments and clean up city streets. The contract is part of a larger $177 million tenant-rights funding package approved by the City Council, despite opposition from the City Attorney. LAFLA's lawyers have filed lawsuits that have blocked the city from enforcing municipal codes aimed at keeping sidewalks clear of encampments and neighborhoods safe, and one attorney has billed as much as $1,025 per hour for work tied to its activism.

Why it matters

The massive contract to LAFLA raises concerns about the city's priorities and the influence of activist groups that have repeatedly sued to hinder the city's ability to address the homelessness crisis. The lawsuits filed by LAFLA's lawyers have placed new restrictions on how the city can remove property during cleanup operations, increasing the time, staffing, and cost of enforcement. This has left many residents frustrated as they continue to deal with filthy streets and unsafe conditions caused by the growing encampments.

The details

Under the deal, Los Angeles will funnel $106,572,543.69 over the next three years to LAFLA for eviction-defense services, even as attorneys connected to the organization have repeatedly filed lawsuits that blocked the city from enforcing municipal codes aimed at keeping sidewalks clear of encampments and neighborhoods safe. The city's contract with LAFLA is nearly twice the nonprofit's annual revenue of $58.6 million. LAFLA's lawyers have been involved in lawsuits that have reshaped how Los Angeles handles enforcement tied to the homelessness crisis, including a recent legal clash over the city's plan to dismantle abandoned RVs lining the streets. A federal judge also ruled in favor of plaintiffs represented by LAFLA attorneys, establishing liability against the city and requiring it to document, store, and track property rather than discarding items during sanitation operations.

  • In February 2026, a federal judge ruled in favor of plaintiffs represented by LAFLA attorneys, effectively establishing liability against the city and could expose Los Angeles to damages and attorney-fee awards.
  • This year, Assemblymember Lena Gonzalez introduced a new clean up bill to amend the state vehicle code to explicitly allow Los Angeles County and its public agencies, including LA City, to implement RV disposal programs.

The players

Legal Aid Foundation of Los Angeles (LAFLA)

A nonprofit law firm that has received a $106.6 million contract from the city of Los Angeles to provide eviction-defense services, despite the organization's attorneys repeatedly filing lawsuits that have hindered the city's ability to address the homelessness crisis.

Shayla Myers

Director of Impact Litigation and Policy at LAFLA, who has represented intervenors in the LA Alliance for Human Rights v. City of Los Angeles lawsuit and sought attorney's fees calculated at $1,025 per hour, a rate the federal judge ultimately found reasonable.

Traci Park

Los Angeles Councilmember whose district includes Venice and other neighborhoods heavily impacted by RV encampments, who has stated that lawsuits like the one targeting the city's RV program are 'another example of activist lawsuits impeding our ability to address urgent public health and safety concerns while moving people indoors.'

Craig Ribeiro

A Venice landlord whose small fourplex has repeatedly been affected by nearby encampments, who expressed shock at the city's contract with LAFLA and believes the lawsuits have handcuffed the city from carrying out regular cleanups in his neighborhood.

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What they’re saying

“They are looking for a payday, obviously.”

— Craig Ribeiro, Venice landlord (New York Post)

“We've been hamstrung in the past by these lawsuits. My tenants want the sidewalks clean. They want to be safe. That's what tenants want.”

— Craig Ribeiro, Venice landlord (New York Post)

“Lawsuits like the one targeting the RV program are 'another example of activist lawsuits impeding our ability to address urgent public health and safety concerns while moving people indoors.'”

— Traci Park, Los Angeles Councilmember (Los Angeles Times)

What’s next

A new clean up bill, introduced this year by Assemblymember Lena Gonzalez, would amend the state vehicle code to explicitly allow Los Angeles County and its public agencies, including LA City, to implement RV disposal programs. The change is designed to address the legal challenge that blocked the city's original plan.

The takeaway

The city's massive contract with LAFLA, despite the organization's lawyers repeatedly suing to hinder the city's efforts to address homelessness and clean up city streets, raises serious questions about the influence of activist groups and the city's priorities in addressing the crisis. The lawsuits have placed new restrictions on the city's cleanup operations, leaving many residents frustrated with the ongoing issues caused by growing encampments.