Contra Costa County tenant resources: partner organizations and resources
Bay Area Legal Aid provides the below resources purely for informational purposes only and is not responsible for the content of external resources or any inaccuracies in the materials. We also cannot say whether you are eligible to receive services from any of the below organizations and providers.
The below provide legal information and/or legal services, depending on their respective eligibility requirements and capacity
- Centro Legal de la Raza – Tenants Rights Clinics and Legal Services: Please call 510.437.1554 or email cctr@centrolegal.org
- Senior Legal Services (60+), ph: 925.609.7900 for appt.
- For Richmond Residents Only: Eviction Defense Center can represent some Richmond residents in Unlawful Detainer cases. Ph: 510.452.4541
- Eviction Defense “Lawyer at the Library” in Richmond.
- Contra Costa Courts “Self-Help” Resources Center – incl. unlawful detainer document assistance
- Contra Costa Bar Association Lawyer Referral Program, email selfhelpcivil@contracosta.courts.ca.gov or call (925) 608-2128 (leave voicemail)
- Please Note: Bay Area Legal cannot assist with Small Claims cases. You may find forms and resources here.
Additionally, Tenants residing in the below cities may have specific rights and resources:
Richmond
- Eviction Defense Center can represent some Richmond residents in their Unlawful Detainer cases. Ph: 510.452.4541
- Richmond Rent Program | Richmond, CA – Official Website
- Richmond “Anti-Harassment” ordinance
- Richmond Housing First (Rental Assistance)
Concord
- Rent Stabilization and Just Cause for Eviction – Rent Program | Concord, CA
- Concord Anti Harassment Ordinance
Antioch
You may contact the below to see if you are eligible for rental assistance or supportive services
- Bay Area Community Services rental assistance and housing solutions
- Catholic Charities
- Shelter, Inc.
- If you receive CALWorks, please visit here and contact your worker
- For Contra Costa Homeless Services see here: Get Help | Contra Costa Health”. You may text “HOPE” to 20121 for free, confidential resources and information.
* Please note that some services require you to call Contra Costa 211 for a referral. 211 also has a searchable database of services and can be a good resource for information about shelters, food banks, transitional housing and supportive services *
Below are links to general information and samples that may be of assistance to you:
- Legal Aid Foundation – link to Unlawful Detainer forms and samples (scroll down to the section on “unlawful detainers”).
- California “Housing is Key” Landlord/Tenant “Rights and Responsibilities” Guide
- Tenants Together provides information for tenants rights including samples for letters in English and Spanish.
- For an online tool to help you prepare an “Answer” after you’ve been served with an Unlawful Detainer visit https://tenantpowertoolkit.org/
- For more information for tenants facing eviction view Self Help Guide and pdf from Disability Rights California.
- Information and samples about disabled tenants’ right to a “reasonable accommodation”
- The California Attorney General has information on a range of tenants rights, including eviction, habitability and security deposits in multiple languages. They can be linked from here.
- California Civil Rights Department “Know Your Housing Rights” Guide.
- Renters’ Rights under the Tenant Protection Act (April 2024)
- For information on housing discrimination, including how to file a discrimination complaint with the California Civil Rights Department, look here.
Here is information about how to sign up to get information about affordable housing availability and waitlists:
- You can apply to properties accepting applications or waitlist sign up. You can also sign up to receive notifications when new properties open up:
- Here is a list of affordable housing providers in Contra Costa, but you have to call to find out if they are accepting applications or have an open waitlist.
- Open House is San Francisco based, but maintains a list of affordable housing with an open wait list for Seniors and Disabled individuals.
- Doorway Housing Portal: https://housingbayarea.mtc.ca.gov/
- Contra Costa Housing Authority waitlist notification list
- Section 8/Housing Choice Voucher Waitlists are rarely open in the Bay Area. If you would like to see open Section 8 Waitlists in California, this list tends to be updated:
- Affordable Housing Online: https://affordablehousingonline.com/open-section-8-waiting-lists/California (be aware, this website has a lot of adds and pop-ups)
The below links are for private attorneys and law firms that represent tenants in lawsuits against their landlords.