Parishioners from St. Anne Church in Santa Monica launched the Santa Monica Renter Empowerment Zone Dec. 16 to educate renters on their rights to clean and safe rental units.

Working in collaboration with LA Voice-Santa Monica, Santa Monicans for Renter's Rights, and the Pico Neighborhood Association, the new empowerment zone (from 14th to Cloverfield Streets and from Pico to Colorado) will consist of a coordinated door-to-door outreach. Santa Monica renters will be informed of their rights in cases of landlord neglect, and surveys will be conducted on the condition of rental units.

"We want to let renters know that they have a right to a home that is clean and safe and without fear of reprisal," said Ana Maria Jara, a community activist, LA-Voice member, and St. Anne parishioner.

The announcement of the empowerment zone coincided with the parish posada, a Christmas procession, led by Father Mike Gutierrez, pastor. This year, some 50 participants marched to a nearby apartment building where St. Anne parishioners have been petitioning their landlord for much needed repairs.

Alfredo and Carmen Arechiga said their repeated requests for home repairs during the past ten years have gone unheeded. The roof needs to be repaired, mold needs to be removed, and the hot water from the kitchen faucet needs to be restored. Holes in the walls need to be fixed. Currently the family stuffs paper and clothing into the holes so mice and rats do not enter the home.

"When apartments are in poor condition it affects our families," said Carmen, a mother of six children, in Spanish. "Today we are part of LA-Voice. We are fighting for our rights and those of our community, and our church."

The Arechigas said they fear being evicted by going public with their problems, and do not want to make enemies with their landlord. "We just want him to understand we can't keep living like this," said Carmen.

Phone calls to the landlord had not been returned by press time.

Josefina Santiago said she's learned how important it is for parishioners to get involved in local issues that affect them as a community.

Community stability is at stake, she added, when landlords neglect long-term tenants and try to propel them out of their apartments so they can charge higher rents to new tenants.

This problem came to the light after the church surveyed its parishioners about their local concerns. Parishioners hope that they by working with other community organizations they can propose solutions and work with city council members to strengthen their community.

"We stand here tonight in solidarity," said Father Gutierrez.

The renters empowerment zone is patterned after other successful efforts in Los Angeles and across the country.