Housing & Homelessness

Major landlord reaches $7M settlement with California, other states in alleged rent price scheme

Greystar is the largest landlord in the country and manages hundreds of rental properties in California, officials say.

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Newport Beach may dump state mandate as residents prep to vote on plan for far fewer housing units

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Ferries travel back and forth in Newport Beach.

How an overloaded homelessness system left this LA family living in their car

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A pair of arms with light skin tone wrap around a small boy with light skin tone, who holds in his hands two toy cars. They sit on a bench next to a woman with light skin tone.

How a retired construction worker finished Altadena’s first home on a lot burned by the Eaton Fire

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A family of three — including a father, mother and an adult son, all with medium skin tone — stand next to power tools and lumber outside their recently completed accessory dwelling unit on the lot of their home in Altadena.

LA County proposes major cuts to homeless services for next year. What we know so far

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Half a dozen large tents are set up on a city sidewalk. Taller buildings can be seen in the background.

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Asking rents skyrocket as LA fires destroy homes

For one listing, rent jumped nearly 86% since September. In an interview with LAist, the agent said she told her client, “People are desperate, and you can probably get good money.”
Wildfires delay annual Los Angeles homeless count

Going forward during the region's fire crisis would compromise data and safety, officials say.
Cheat Sheet: These are the steps fire victims need to take to make an insurance claim

We have tips from California's insurance commissioner on how to contact the state and start the claims process, and how to keep you and your loved ones from falling for scams.
Homelessness officials recover $13M paid to service providers; judge pushes for more transparency

The funds were cash advances to service providers in the Los Angeles region.
New homelessness data: How does California compare to the rest of the country?

Homelessness grew just 3% in California last year, compared to 18% nationwide.
LA officials call on landlords to accept housing vouchers from veterans under new streamlined process

The two-pronged approach aims to get more housing vouchers into veterans' hands while boosting the number of units available.
Widespread encampment sweeps: A look back at California's homelessness response in 2024

Many California cities cracked down on homeless encampments in 2024. What's in store for 2025?
100-plus cities, including in SoCal, banned homeless camping this year. But will it work?

The burst of new laws follows a landmark Supreme Court ruling and reflects public frustration with record-high homelessness. But advocates say fines and jail time will only make the problem worse.
LA tenants are facing rent hikes of up to 6%; city officials recommend lower caps

The L.A. City Council has failed to vote on new rent control limits ahead of a looming Feb. 1 deadline. Should increases be put on hold?
LA loses third effort to block affordable housing in some neighborhoods

Judge rules L.A. illegally tried to change the rules for a program to streamline affordable housing in neighborhoods with single-family homes.
New California law could help tenants facing eviction stay in their homes

Voters said no to expanded rent control, but tenants facing evictions will have more time to fight to keep their homes under a new law.
LA's homelessness agency handles $700M in contracts each year. Just one employee must disclose conflicts

Public employees often must disclose outside income and gifts to in state-mandated forms. Why aren’t top LA homelessness officials? Out of hundreds of employees, only the CEO currently files, according to an LAist review of records.

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Housing & Homelessness