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  • Garcia Hong Law APC

    Address

    10680 Treena Street,
    Suite 160,
    San Diego, California 92131

  • posted: Feb. 03, 2022
National City, CA - Experts in the fields of landlord and tenant rights will share their best practices and tips regarding residential housing issues, including eviction.


The free event is scheduled for Saturday, March 12, 2022 at 10:00 a.m. at COPAO, 832 E Ave, National City, CA 91950. The event is hosted by Pag-asa Law Clinic, a 501(c)(3) non-profit group founded in 2019. Valerie Garcia Hong is on the Board of Directors of Pag-asa Law Clinic.


With over 200,000 Filipinos in San Diego County, Pag-asa Law Clinic is the first Filipino-based Law Clinic serving Filipinos regardless of legal status and the greater community in Southern California. The clinic provides pro bono (free) or low-cost legal services in the areas of immigration, naturalization, temporary restraining orders, and unlawful detainers.

“We want the Filipino community in San Diego to know that Pag-asa Law Clinic is here as a resource for them. We are here to help you navigate complicated legal problems and get you the access to justice that you deserve.” said Diana Laranang, President of Pag-asa Law Clinic. Pag-asa Law Clinic recognized the challenges for the Filipino community to access lawyers. “It’s not easy asking for help with personal legal issues. Pag-asa Law Clinic wants to make the legal process as easy as possible while providing the help our community needs,” said Bessie Samson, Attorney and Director of Pag-asa Law Clinic.

 

During the panel event, experts in the fields of landlord and tenant rights will share their insight on local city and county ordinances that may affect eviction. They will also discuss best practices for landlords and tenants, and available resources. The experts include Heather Carmody, Attorney at San Diego Volunteer Lawyer Program, Inc.; Femie Cupit, President of Filipino American Chamber of Commerce – North San Diego, landlord and property manager; Ramesses Surban, Attorney at Legal Aid Society; and Aaron Giron, Attorney at Pag-asa Law Clinic. The panel will be moderated by Valerie Garcia Hong.

 

The State of California’s temporary ban on evictions for nonpayment of rent related to the COVID-19 pandemic expired on September 30, 2021. The state’s emergency law generally protected tenants from eviction for nonpayment of rent due between March 1, 2020 and September 30, 2021, if that nonpayment is the result of a hardship related to the COVID-19 pandemic and the tenant has paid any required portion of the rent.

 

According to a survey conducted by the National Equity Atlas, 5,883,000 households are behind in rent across the country as of January 2022. That same survey found that communities of color, including Asians, were disproportionately rent burdened and economically insecure in 2019 due to the pandemic. 

 

Pag-asa Law Clinic is run by volunteer attorneys and law student interns. The volunteer attorneys have also helped Filipinos with complicated naturalization and immigration services. “Pag-asa Law Clinic is ‘of the people, for the people.’ Our volunteers are actual members of the community who understand and relate to the legal issues Filipinos can face. We believe it is our responsibility to give back to our community,” said Samson.

 

The event is free and open to the public. A Zoom link for those who would like to attend remotely will be available upon registration. Light refreshments and continental breakfast will be provided.