One year ago, Congress defunded public media. Now that we're 100% community funded, please become a sustaining member or increase your existing membership today.
LA County declares housing insecurity a public health crisis
Eric Montoya (left), a homeless outreach coordinator with LA Family Housing, visit with Dan Frost, an unhoused man living in an encampment in a public park in Van Nuys.
(
Robyn Beck
/
Getty Images
)
Listen
0:41
LA County declares housing insecurity a public health crisis
The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors voted to declare housing insecurity a public health crisis and to develop a policy that gives residents in unincorporated areas priority access to affordable housing.
The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors voted Tuesday to declare housing insecurity a public health crisis and to develop a policy that gives residents in unincorporated areas priority access to some affordable housing built in their neighborhoods.
The crisis declaration is not an official emergency declaration and does not trigger any emergency powers. But according to Supervisor Hilda Solis, the resolution directs county agencies to get on the same page.
"Unstable housing is not just an economic issue. It is a driver of chronic illness, trauma, family instability and preventable health disparities," Solis said.
The motion instructs the county’s Department of Homeless Services and Housing, the Los Angeles County Development Authority and other departments to develop coordinated plans to preserve existing affordable housing units, keep people in their homes and prioritize the health impacts of housing instability.
-
Populations of two disease-carrying mosquito species are concerning public health officials, who are employing new strategies to reduce their populations. -
The inaugural event kicks off Friday, July 24. The crawl includes stores from Pasadena to Santa Monica, from Montrose to Manhattan Beach. -
Recent rulings have struck down requirements in L.A. and Pasadena for landlords to pay thousands of dollars to tenants who couldn’t afford large rent hikes.
Supervisors also approved a separate motion directing departments leaders to develop a local preference policy for L.A. County-funded housing in unincorporated areas.
When county funding is used to build affordable housing in communities like East Los Angeles, Willowbrook or Altadena, residents of those neighborhoods would get priority access to them.
Sponsored message
According to the motion, 59% of renters in unincorporated areas spend more than a third of their income on rent.
Housing insecurity
The county uses the term “housing insecure” to describe anyone lacking stable, safe and affordable housing.
That means unhoused Angelenos, as well as tenants who spend more than half of their income on rent, people living in overcrowded or substandard housing conditions, and those at risk for eviction or displacement.
Various studies show that housing instability contributes to chronic disease, emergency room visits and premature death.
The county's Department of Homeless Services and Housing, which launched this year, grew directly out of the Housing for Health program, a health-centered homelessness program formerly within the Department of Health Services.
Budget concerns
The supervisors voted 4-0 Tuesday to approve both motions. Supervisor Kathryn Barger was absent for the vote because she attended the funeral of an L.A. County sheriff's deputy.
Sponsored message
Officials warned of major federal cuts coming to Medi-Cal, CalFresh and other services because of the Trump administration’s “One Big Beautiful Bill” signed into law last year.
One year ago, Congress voted to defund public media, eliminating a critical $1.7 million from our budget every year going forward. But they couldn’t silence us, and we’re not going anywhere. LAist is now 100% community funded and that means we’re taking our future into our own hands and turning to you to keep local reporting strong.
You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our nonprofit newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our communities. We are free to follow facts wherever they lead and to hold power to account without fear or favor. Our only loyalty is to our readers and listeners and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen Southern California’s communities.
If this story helped you, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our nonprofit newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our communities. We are free to follow facts wherever they lead and to hold power to account without fear or favor. Our only loyalty is to our readers and listeners and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen Southern California’s communities.
If this story helped you, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
Senior Vice President News, Editor in Chief
