The City of L.A. contracts with CES and four other                                                                            groups  to provide outreach to tenants living in slum buildings which are subject to the Rent Escrow Account Program (REAP), Utility Maintenance Program (UMP) and Urgent Repair Program (URP). When a building is in REAP, tenants get a rent reduction and are urged to pay rent to the City until the landlord makes the needed repairs.

UMP addresses cases where the landlord has not paid the water or 

electricity and service is at risk.  URP is used when

 the owner refuses to make repairs to conditions which are life 

threatening and the City steps in to make sure repairs are made.

Under the contract, CES conducts outreach to tenants to educate 

them on their rights, encourage them to participate in these programs 

and verify that the repairs are made.

In 1998, in coalition with other tenant groups, CES pressured the L.A.

 City Council to create the Systematic Code Enforcement Program 

(SCEP), a program to inspect the City's over 700,000 rental units for 

electrical, plumbing and structural housing code violations.

At CES' urging, the City of West Hollywood is now

considering implementing a Systematic Code 

Enforcement Program (SCEP) pilot program similar 

to the program that CES was instrumental in securing

in the City of Los Angeles.