Solutions to Low Income Housing

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 This panel will explore creative solutions to meet the needs of Los Angeles’ low-income renters and the unhoused community in the midst of an affordable housing and homelessness crisis.  Corporate landlords and developers are trying to dismantle policies put in place to protect tenants and anti-homeless forces are trying to hurt a very vulnerable unhoused community. Experts will explore permanent housing solutions for our unhoused community, renters rights and preservation and expansion of current affordable and rent-controlled housing; the benefits and continued need for affordable housing dollars and advocacy through a transfer tax on multi-million dollar commercial building sales  (United to Save LA and GS in Santa Monica), the campaign to stop the criminalization of our unhoused community and the benefits of empathetic and trauma informed case management. 

Moderator Mary Cellini: a frontline housing-justice advocate who blends direct services, public education, and coalition work. Her stance opposes criminalization—arguing sweeps don’t solve homelessness and emphasizing prevention, production, and protection (“3 Ps”). If you need a source close to LA’s day-to-day realities and statewide advocacy networks, she fits that bill.

Celinni is a housing specialist who handles on-the-ground advocacy and data-driven projects. She’s publicly active in mutual-aid style support for unhoused neighbors (e.g., donating hygiene and heat-safety kits via SELAH Neighborhood Homeless Coalition) and engages in direct-action/awareness efforts with AHF/HHR.

Ericka Lesley: Commissioner and Former President, Santa Monica Rent Board, Regional Director, National Black Caucus. 

Ericka  frames her policy priorities around equity, housing, affordability, and inclusion — all grounded in her own lived experience. She regards rent control as a “lifeline” for preserving Santa Monica’s economic and racial diversity, while supporting stronger tenant protections such as mold standards and expanded code enforcement. 

She has called for higher affordable-housing quotas — up to a 70/30 market-to-affordable mix — to confront the city’s widening affordability gap. 

Michael E. Soloff is a Los Angeles attorney and partner at Munger, Tolles & Olson LLP, where he combines a high-level civil-litigation practice with a strong commitment to pro bono tenants’ rights work. Admitted to the California Bar in 1984, Soloff has represented renters facing eviction and authored amicus briefs supporting tenant protections through organizations like Tenants Together. His blend of legal expertise and advocacy reflects a dedication to housing justice and preserving affordability for vulnerable Californians..  Representative. GS Resident Oversight Committee. Co-Chair, Santa Monicans for Renters Rights

Carlos Marroquin: National Director, and Housing Advocate “Food for Health” program, a major initiative addressing food insecurity among vulnerable populations in Southern California. Under his leadership the program has scaled to serve tens of thousands of people each month by distributing free fresh produce, bread, eggs and other essential staples. For example, the Food for Health program provided more than 75,000 hot meals to wildfire evacuees and first-responders, and launched a weekly free farmers’ market in Altadena.