Holland & Knight attorneys secured a victory for California nonprofit Grandma's House of Hope by challenging the City of Anaheim's refusal to issue a permit to allow the organization to provide transitional housing for homeless women at a house in the city.
The mission of Orange County-based Grandma's House of Hope is to "empower the invisible populations" of Orange County, California, by providing transitional housing to those experiencing homelessness.
In October 2021, the City of Anaheim refused to issue a permit to allow Grandma's House of Hope to provide transitional housing for homeless women at a large house within the city, leaving at least 10 homeless women without the homes to which they were entitled by law. Holland & Knight Partner Dan Golub, leading a team that included Associates Nathaniel Bernstein and Deborah Brundy, represented Grandma's House in filing litigation to challenge this denial – and the city's broader policy of discriminating against transitional housing in its land use practices. The California Department of Housing & Community Development (HCD), represented by Attorney General Rob Bonta, intervened in this litigation on the same side of Grandma's House, joining the case in June 2023.
On February 2, 2024, Mr. Golub and California Deputy Attorney General Norma Franklin argued the case before Orange County Superior Court Judge Walter Schwarm, who ruled decisively in favor of Grandma's House and HCD. Judge Schwarm ruled that the city's decision to deny the permit violated the Housing Accountability Act, one of California's key housing production laws, and that the city's policies violate California Housing Element Law and several anti-discrimination laws.
"This represents a tremendous victory not just for Grandma's House and the formerly homeless individuals Grandma's House is committed to serving – but for all Californians devoted to stemming the state's housing and homelessness crisis," Mr. Golub said. "We are proud to represent Grandma's House. Housing laws matter. Enforcing those laws makes a real difference in people's lives."
"This victory allows us to continue our mission to provide housing for the homeless in our city and we are thankful to attorneys at Holland & Knight and the Department of Housing & Community Development for their commitment to our cause," said Irene Basdakis, CEO of Grandma's House of Hope.
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