Coalitions
United to house LA (UHLA)
KIWA is a steering committee member of United to House LA (ULA), a citywide coalition of housing justice and labor organizations that collaboratively developed the policy, then campaigned to pass Measure ULA during the November 2022 election. Known as the “Mansion Tax”, Measure ULA created a one-time transfer tax on property sales above $5 million to fund affordable housing production, homelessness prevention, and social housing. Along with our ULA allies, KIWA is actively involved in implementing Measure ULA so that it addresses homelessness and housing insecurity, creates good union jobs, and charts a path for social housing.
California Coalition for Worker Power (CCWP)
KIWA co-leads the California Coalition for Worker Power (CCWP), a coalition of worker centers, worker advocates, labor policy experts, and labor unions dedicated to ensuring that every worker in California has the power to come together and improve their work conditions and their communities. In 2023, CCWP developed and successfully advocated for the passage of SB 497 (Smallwood-Cuevas), the Equal Pay and Anti-Retaliation Act, providing California workers stronger protections when employers retaliate against them for upholding their rights. By requiring that employers show why they took an adverse action against a worker who spoke up, SB 497 is an innovative step towards changing the gross imbalance of power between most employers and workers. In 2024, CCWP is holding a statewide Worker Power Assembly and working to pass SB 1030 (Smallwood-Cuevas) to improve outreach to millions of workers across California and protecting PAGA (Private Attorneys General Act) a vital tool for workers in low-wage jobs to address wage theft.
Our Future LA
Our Future LA (OFLA) is a county-wide coalition of housing, labor, environmental justice, homeless service providers, and other social justice advocates that aims to address the affordable housing and homelessness crisis with regional solutions. As a member of the OFLA steering committee, KIWA helped pass SB 679 (Kamlager) in 2022, which created the Los Angeles County Affordable Housing Solutions Agency (LACAHSA) that has the ability to fund affordable housing production and preservation across Los Angeles County. As part of OFLA, KIWA is working to ensure LACAHSA is funded and includes oversight from tenants and community organizations. In November 2024, LA County will have the chance to vote on providing hundreds of millions to address our housing and homelessness crisis.
ACT-LA
The Alliance for Community Transit – Los Angeles (ACT-LA) is a county-wide coalition that strives to create just, equitable, sustainable transit systems and neighborhoods for all people in Los Angeles, placing the interest of low-income communities and communities of color first as we create a more sustainable region. As a member of ACT-LA’s steering committee, KIWA is advancing ACT-LA’s campaigns for social housing and transit justice in Los Angeles.
Social housing works by providing city-owned land or leasing existing buildings to community-led organizations to develop and manage housing directly—all benefiting local renters and residents in need of stable homes.
The notion of transit justice is rooted in ACT-LA’s vision for Metro as a “sanctuary for the public.” Within this vision, the train and bus are fareless, and, as part of our regional support system, integrated into people’s daily lives.