Benito Flores, a retired welder, has found himself at the center of a contentious battle over housing in El Sereno, Los Angeles. Parked on a narrow street in front of his one-bedroom duplex, Flores’ battered, pale yellow Dodge Ram van serves as a reminder of his past struggles and the uncertain future that lies ahead.
Flores, along with a group of individuals and families who call themselves “Reclaiming Our Homes,” took a bold stand against homelessness in the spring of 2020. They seized state-owned homes that had been left vacant and decaying for decades in El Sereno, following a failed freeway expansion project. This act of protest sparked a public outcry and months of negotiations, ultimately leading to a temporary agreement that allowed Flores and the others to stay in the houses.
However, the temporary reprieve has come to an end. In March, Flores received an eviction judgment, signaling the imminent end of his time in the state-owned property. As he prepares to face eviction, Flores is gearing up to defy the authorities once again by occupying a house that legally does not belong to him. If forced out, he plans to return to living in his van, a prospect that he views as a violation of the state’s duty to provide housing for the less fortunate.
Flores, now 70, firmly believes that living in a van or on the streets should not be considered a crime. He is not alone in his predicament. In recent weeks, Los Angeles County Superior Court judges have issued eviction orders against Flores and two other “Reclaimers” living in Caltrans-owned homes. Additional cases against three more Reclaimers are still pending.
Officials from the Housing Authority of the City of Los Angeles (HACLA), which has been overseeing a transitional housing program for the Reclaimers, maintain that eviction is a last resort after exhausting all other options. Despite winning in eviction court, HACLA has extended settlement offers to the Reclaimers, providing them with financial compensation, additional time in the homes, and assistance in finding alternative housing options.
The standoff between the Reclaimers and the authorities traces back to the 1970s when Caltrans began acquiring homes in El Sereno for a freeway expansion project that was ultimately abandoned. Over the years, many of these homes fell into disrepair and were left vacant. In March 2020, Flores and other activists took matters into their own hands, breaking into empty homes in El Sereno to stake their claim.
A temporary agreement was reached, allowing the Reclaimers to rent the homes at below-market rates for a limited period. However, as the deadline expired, HACLA initiated eviction proceedings, prompting some Reclaimers to leave voluntarily. Those who remained faced the difficult choice of accepting HACLA’s offers, which they believed would uproot their families and destabilize their lives, or holding out for a chance to purchase the homes through a community ownership model.
The situation has sparked legal and philosophical debates, with some arguing that allowing the Reclaimers to stay would set a precedent for lawbreaking while others contend that evicting low-income residents from publicly owned homes only to sell them to nonprofits perpetuates the cycle of housing insecurity. City Councilmember Ysabel Jurado, who has been a vocal supporter of the Reclaimers, emphasizes the importance of fair treatment for all involved parties.
As the eviction proceedings continue, Flores remains steadfast in his resistance, despite the hardships he may face. Living with diabetes and struggling with health issues, Flores knows that returning to his van will pose significant challenges. Yet, he remains resolute in his belief that he is fighting for justice and will continue to do so in a “strong, creative way.”
The plight of Flores and the other Reclaimers serves as a poignant reminder of the ongoing housing crisis in Los Angeles and the complex interplay of legal, social, and ethical issues at play. As the battle over housing rights unfolds, the human stories of individuals like Flores shed light on the struggles faced by many in the fight for affordable and secure housing. The outcome of this conflict will undoubtedly have far-reaching implications for the broader community and the future of housing policy in Los Angeles.
