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Building Your Block
A newsletter course from LAist that explains the obstacles around housing development in L.A. and what you can do to make things better.
We know there’s a housing shortage in L.A., and it’s created major challenges for the region. But try to understand how to fix the problem and it gets murky, fast. We need more housing, but where can we actually build it? Why does it seem like all the new buildings going up are luxury apartments? Why isn’t there enough affordable housing? And most importantly: What can you actually do to support the housing you want to see in L.A.?
These are just some of the questions that Building Your Block will tackle in this seven-issue newsletter course.
Think of it as your starter guide to the conversations L.A. is having about housing development, plus we’ll bring you some real talk on what you can do to advocate for the housing future you want.
What can I expect?
Over seven issues, we’ll cover everything from how zoning rules determine what gets built and where, to why there’s so little affordable housing.
We’ll cap it all off with a long list of ideas you can put into action to influence housing decisions in your backyard, your city and beyond.
How often will you email me?
This newsletter has seven issues in total. Once you sign up, you’ll get one new issue a day until it’s done.
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Texas recorded a 28% drop in homelessness since 2012, while California’s homeless population grew by 43%. What’s behind the diverging trends, and what can California learn from programs in Houston, Austin and San Antonio? -
City officials say 1,500 people are at risk in the nonprofit’s apartment buildings, after years of neglect and safety issues – including broken fire alarm systems. -
Tenant advocates warned that dismantling COVID-19 renter protections would cause homelessness to rise. Does that explain this year’s 9% increase? -
The latest numbers on the unhoused community from the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority (LAHSA) is a reminder of the thousands of people living on the streets in L.A. who deal with debilitating mental illness. -
San Antonio’s Haven for Hope offers a place to sleep for anyone in need. Some in California would love to replicate its scale, but its strict rules have others questioning its approach. -
The latest count found that 75,518 people are unhoused in L.A. County. The head of the agency that oversaw the data collection says multiple safety net systems have failed.
