Who We Are
The United Neighbors in Defense Against Displacement (UNIDAD) coalition is the product of a community collaboration formed to prevent the displacement of residents in South Central Los Angeles and to improve the health and economic well-being of low-income communities of color through responsible development.
Context
UNIDAD now finds itself at a key moment in the history of South Los Angeles. The last two decades have seen downtown LA become the locus of accelerated gentrification [1]. Riding the waves of recent major public and private investment – namely the construction of the Expo Line, the Lorenzo Project and the USC campus expansion plan – development is increasingly expanding into South Central LA. Most projects under way or proposed offer extreme examples of how developments designed for the convenience and comfort of the wealthy disregard the health and welfare of the poor, immigrant, working-class residents of color who form the majority of our community.
What We Do
UNIDAD works to reduce the displacement of vulnerable populations by revitalizing low-income neighborhoods with existing residents as change agents and utilizing existing and future redevelopment opportunities as a means to build power, create economic opportunity, and decrease displacement of low-income residents of color in the Figueroa Corridor area of South Los Angeles.
Who We Are
UNIDAD is a coalition of residents and their organizations in South Central LA dedicated to keeping families in their homes and improving the health and economic well-being of low-income communities of color through responsible development. We recognize that structural racism linked to housing, policing, land use and employment policies have caused great harm to Black, Latino, Native, Asian, immigrant and low-income communities. UNIDAD works to reverse these harms by promoting healthy and equitable neighborhoods through planning and land use that is rooted in community.
What We Believe
UNIDAD promotes and supports healthy and equitable neighborhoods through community-engaged planning and land use. Our goal is to improve neighborhoods without removing our neighbors. To that end we work towards the following goals:
Our Goals:
- Ensure investment happens without displacement and with specific benefit to the community.
- Maximize reductions in greenhouse gas production.
- Maximize green space.
- Reverse overcrowding.
- End the rising homelessness crisis and respect the rights of the homeless
- Create a precedent and standard for responsible, equitable development in Los Angeles.
- Support local residents--including low-income tenants and the homeless--in leading the design of plans and policies for our community