This week, the SGV Connect/StreetSmart Podcast dives into the ongoing struggle of the Reclaimers, a group of formerly homeless individuals who moved into vacant houses owned by Caltrans during the pandemic without permission. Over the last five years, these individuals have engaged in a legal battle involving various state agencies and local authorities, all while drawing attention to systemic issues in the housing market that disproportionately affect those with fewer resources.
Central to this discussion is the story of Benito Flores, a 76-year-old handyman who still resides in a Caltrans-owned home in El Sereno. Flores has steadfastly resisted eviction, vowing to remain in the house until he is forcibly removed. He has even built a treehouse on the property as a means of protest, symbolizing his defiance against a system that he believes continuously marginalizes the vulnerable.
Flores hopes to use his situation to raise awareness about the broader housing crisis and is advocating for a rent strike planned for December 2026. He claims that the Housing Authority of the City of Los Angeles (HACLA) has misrepresented his willingness to accept permanent supportive housing in court, a claim HACLA has denied, stating it has offered various housing options, including an emergency housing voucher, which Flores declined.
HACLA maintains that its El Sereno Temporary Housing Program has assisted over 44 households and 150 individuals, successfully helping the majority to find permanent housing. However, Flores argues that HACLA’s actions contradict their obligations under the law, specifically the California Health and Safety Code, which mandates that permanent housing is provided as quickly as possible to those in need.
Flores’s fight extends beyond his personal situation; he aims to highlight how the overwhelming housing crisis continues to push low-income individuals onto the streets. During the interview, he emphasized, ‘The principle is: the state and the city are under the moral and legal obligation to provide permanent housing to the homeless, elders, disabled, and families with children.’
The Reclaimers, who originally moved into the vacant homes to escape homelessness, are embroiled in a complex court battle over their rights under the Roberti Act, which entitles occupants of government-acquired properties the right of first refusal to purchase their homes after two years. Although their initial lawsuit was denied, an appeal is ongoing.
Flores expressed frustration at the legal proceedings, noting that bias and systemic racism may have played a role in the decisions against them, saying, ‘the judges that are supposed to protect the people are making bad decisions based on lies and helping an illegal eviction.’
In addition to Flores, other members of the Reclaimers’ group continue to fight against their evictions, although some have accepted monetary settlements and lost their rights to pursue ownership under the Roberti Act. Families such as Flores’s remain determined to challenge the obstacles they face within the legal system.
Flores’s direct action in his treehouse serves not only as a means to resist eviction but also as a platform to promote a larger movement against unfair rental practices. His calls for a city-wide rent strike aim to unite renters in asserting their rights against landlords who raise rents excessively without regard for tenants’ financial situations.
Benito’s act of defiance is emblematic of the anger and determination felt by many in similar circumstances and reflects a growing discontent with the state of housing policy in California. He summarizes his struggle, saying, ‘I am here fighting for my house because the people who are obligated to provide me with permanent housing are lying.’
As the situation continues to unfold, the Reclaimers’ fight serves as a beacon of resistance against systemic failures in housing policies that perpetuate homelessness. Benito Flores, in his desperate yet hopeful stand, remains committed to demanding justice, not just for himself but for all those affected by the housing crisis.
The conversation around housing inequity is far from over, as voices like Flores’s strive to call attention to an urgent humanitarian issue that affects many people in society today.
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