FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Tuesday, May 6

CONTACT: Evan Thies or Anna Deknatel, 646-452-5637

Sacramento and Davis Legislators Hear Resolutions in Support of "Atria Bill" to Regulate Rent at Elderly Care Facilities

Leno bill moving forward following sky-high rent increases at Atria homes

The city of Davis also passed a resolution in support of rent controls.
See it here.

Davis and Sacramento, CA – California seniors continued their push against price-gouging as part of two hearings today held by the Sacramento County Board of Supervisors and Davis City Council. Seniors asked that both bodies consider endorsing statewide legislation which would allow local governments to regulate rent increases for elderly residents of assisted living facilities.

– California seniors continued their push against price-gouging as part of two hearings today held by the Sacramento County Board of Supervisors and Davis City Council. Seniors asked that both bodies consider endorsing statewide legislation which would allow local governments to regulate rent increases for elderly residents of assisted living facilities.

"Even though I prepared for my retirement with long term insurance, investments and even selling my property, the rates at Atria El Camino Gardens are rising so fast that I'm running out of money already and won't be able to stay much longer," said Constance Hagen, a resident of Atria El Camino Gardens who testified at the hearing in Sacramento.

"Assisted living rent increases beyond the cost of living are robbing life from senior citizens who are limited in what we can pay," said Arthur Zalkan, a resident of Atria Covell Gardens who testified at the Davis hearing. "This legislation is needed desperately to enable seniors to enjoy a quality of life."

As assisted living facilities mushroom across California, vulnerable seniors have been hit with cost increases that are skyrocketing out of their control. Seniors that have been gouged by providers like Atria Senior Living, one of the largest providers in the state, have teamed up with advocates and elected leaders to fight back against exorbitant cost increases and will speak out on the need for stronger regulations to protect the growing number of seniors living in assisted living facilities.

Average increases at most assisted living facilities are 4% to 5%. Atria Senior Living residents, however, have been hit with rate increases up to 11%. Many residents have seen massive hikes for two or more years in a row. Atria Senior Living is owned by a private equity buyout fund affiliated with Lazard, Ltd., a Wall Street powerhouse managing more than $140 billion globally.

The Sacramento Board and Davis Council considered resolutions today on AB 2598, a bill by San Francisco Assemblyman Mark Leno to give local government the authority to regulate rent in assisted living facilities. The State Assembly is also considering a bill by Speaker-Elect Karen Bass (D-Los Angeles) – AB 2370 – which would warn residents if an assisted care facility had a history of exorbitant rent increases before they commit to moving in.