Housing & Homelessness

A plywood platform on the dirt ground, surrounded by canvas tents

Nonprofit to close South LA ‘safe sleep’ site this week, citing insufficient funding

The Lincoln Safe Sleep Village is set to close Saturday. The site provided unhoused people with tents, meals, bathrooms and security.

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LA County considers plans to remove unhoused people and clear encampments around Olympic venues

An aerial view of audience stands and a grassy field. Buildings are in the distance behind the arena.

Shirley Raines, founder of LA nonprofit Beauty 2 the Streetz, has died

Shirley Raines posing in front of a colorful "TikTok House Party" step-and-repeat backdrop. She is wearing a vibrant, black blazer dress covered in eclectic, neon-colored patches and graphic prints. She has her hand on her hip and is looking directly at the camera with a confident smile.

LA-area hotline gets thousands of calls during winter storms, but can offer few shelter resources

A man in a wheelchair is tucked next to the side of a building, seeking shelter from rain falling on the city in front of him. A few people can be seen walking down the sidewalk with umbrellas and rain coats.

California bill seeks to set new standards for cleaning homes after toxic fires

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A dark layer of ash from the Eaton Fire is visible on a windowsill that held potted plants. Health officials have said this ash potentially contains lead, asbestos and arsenic.

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California is launching a mortgage relief program for fire survivors. Here’s how to apply

CalAssist Mortgage Fund offers up to three months of mortgage payments for homeowners who lost their homes in the Eaton and Palisades fires.
The Trump administration is working on a plan for time limits on rental aid

A housing agency rule would also allow work requirements. Supporters say a time limit would help spread limited funds to more people, but critics warn it would leave some homeless.
LA officials testify in high-profile federal court hearing on city’s homelessness spending

Here are some key takeaways from the city administrative officer and a deputy mayor who spent hours on the witness stand in downtown Los Angeles.
Long Beach's unhoused population rose 6.5% last year, officials say; LA fires partly to blame

In January, volunteers counted 3,595 people experiencing homelessness in Long Beach, compared with the 3,376 people counted in January 2024.
LA hires big law firm — at $900,000 — in long-running court battle over homelessness spending

Gibson, Dunn and Crutcher has handled major cases around the country, including last year when the firm represented the city of Grants Pass, Oregon, in a landmark Supreme Court case.
Outgoing LA homelessness chief says budget cuts jeopardize next year’s homeless count

Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority CEO says the embattled agency won’t have enough funding to carry out the 2026 count.
Need rent help? Boyle Heights tenants could get up to $3,000 in assistance

To qualify, tenants must provide proof of residency in Boyle Heights, a copy of their rental agreement and documentation of overdue rent.
How gentrification is killing the bus: California’s rising rents are pushing out commuters

Across Los Angeles, rent hikes have led to fewer bus and train riders in an example of how California’s housing crisis is also making its transit crisis harder to solve.
LA firestorm survivors should update mailing addresses to get property tax refunds

Property tax relief letters, including refund checks, are getting returned because the homes they’re being sent to were destroyed in the fires.
LAHSA issues layoff notices to 11 employees amid budget crisis

The Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority is addressing a shortfall in this year's budget by cutting staff.
Family found mother's dead body eaten by dogs at LA homeless encampment. They're demanding answers

The medical examiner has not yet determined a cause of death. Lucrecia Macias Barajas' family said the encampment where her daughter found her mother's body had been a known problem for many years.
Vets in LA hope, with Trump order, that they can finally come home

President Trump has ordered a Veterans Affairs campus in West Los Angeles to house 6,000 homeless vets by 2028, but details are elusive.

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Housing & Homelessness