Housing Rights Advocates Take on Avalon Bay Communities in a Socially-Distant Protest

Wednesday, August 12, 3:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m., socially-distant protest and press conference will take place at 455 Market Street, SF, 94105

As millions of Californians face devastating economic loss due to COVID-19 pandemic, housing justice advocates will stage a protest/advocacy action to defend against predatory corporate landlord Avalon Bay Communities, who continues to put profits above people

SAN FRANCISCO--()--A coalition of tenants' rights advocates that includes Housing Is A Human Right (HHR), the housing advocacy division of AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF); San Francisco Tenants Union (STU); and Tenants Together will stage a socially-distant protest followed by a press conference at 455 Market Street, SF, 94105, to call out Avalon Bay Communities.

Avalon Bay Communities, the third-largest owner of apartment buildings in the nation, is profiting off struggling renters. In 2018, they spent $4.2 million to stop rent control in California. Corporate real estate groups are working together to defeat any proposed housing reform in the state. Meanwhile, unfair rent increases have forced Californians out of their homes and onto the streets. Housing insecurity has only worsened due to the economic fallout of the COVID-19 pandemic.

"The level of greed we see time and time again from corporate landlords like Avalon Bay is disgraceful," said René Christian Moya, Executive Director for Housing Is A Human Right. "In 2018, they contributed millions to defeat Prop 10, a housing reform measure that would've helped millions of working-class tenants. It is time for these corporations to be held accountable for their actions that fuel the ongoing housing affordability crisis."

The SOCIALLY-DISTANT PROTEST will start at 10:00 a.m. and runs until 11:00 a.m. at 455 Market Street, SF

WHAT:

 

HOUSING RIGHTS PROTEST led by housing justice advocates calling out Avalon Bay Communities for profiting off struggling renters, even during the COVID-19 pandemic.

WHEN:

 

Wednesday, August 12, 2020 - 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.

WHERE:

 

455 Market Street, SF, 94105

B-ROLL:

 

Advocates will hold a socially-distant protest, in which they will stand six feet apart and wear face masks, in observance of COVID-19 protocol

"Rent increases are out of control, and now more than ever, we need to address predatory landlords and their leeching off the backs of working-class tenants,” said Trinidad Ruiz, Organizer for Housing Is A Human Right.

AIDS Healthcare Foundation, the parent non-profit of Housing Is A Human Right and Healthy Housing Foundation, has long addressed public health emergencies – from the AIDS epidemic to the Ebola crisis to California’s homeless crisis. AHF will do everything it can to help the vulnerable during this difficult time.

Contacts

MEDIA CONTACTS:
Ruthie Thomas, Communications Director, Housing Is A Human Right
ruth.thomas@ahf.org
(310) 663-4159 cell

Jacqueline Burbank, Western Grassroots Director, Housing Is A Human Right (HHR)
jacqueline.burbank@ahf.org
(323) 208-1505 cell

Release Summary

Housing Rights Advocates take on Avalon Bay Communities in a Socially-Distant Protest

Contacts

MEDIA CONTACTS:
Ruthie Thomas, Communications Director, Housing Is A Human Right
ruth.thomas@ahf.org
(310) 663-4159 cell

Jacqueline Burbank, Western Grassroots Director, Housing Is A Human Right (HHR)
jacqueline.burbank@ahf.org
(323) 208-1505 cell