Judith Beaty (Sacramento)
"Wall Street landlord Invitation Homes ruined my life. For seven years my family lived in our home, faithfully paying them every month, even though my $1,750 rent always mysteriously became $2,100 or $2,200 with unexplained fees. In June of 2024, I was in a life threatening car accident that left me hospitalized for weeks, causing my income to be reduced. I applied for housing assistance immediately and was approved to help me cover my rent, but Invitation Homes refused to sign a simple letter saying they wouldn't evict me after getting the money, which disqualified me from assistance.
My children and I were evicted on October 31st of last year. Until late January of this year my kids and I were homeless. It was very difficult to find a new home because Invitation Homes owns the majority of the rentals in the Sacramento area. The trauma and stress of this experience have caused a depression I'm still struggling with every day.”
— Judith Beaty, A Sacramento resident, former tenant of Wall Street landlord, Invitation Homes
Astrid Morales (Merced)
“When I was renting an apartment with roommates, our rent increased by more than $400 – nearly 30% – after the first year, which made a big negative impact on our lives. I started eating canned ravioli from the dollar store, enrolled for food stamps, and sold unopened Christmas gifts. I was sacrificing everything just to pay rent. The Central Valley has long been known for being an affordable place to live, but the rent spikes here have made it unmanageable for college students and young adults like me. Making ends meet to pay rent impacts millions of people across the state. That's why the state must pass AB 1157, the Affordable Rent Act."
- Astrid Morales, tenant living Merced, CA and Senior Organizer with PowerCA Action