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Listen Listen
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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While some praise the Governor’s proposal to compel treatment in the most severe mental health cases, others are concerned about its real impact and implications. -
The United Way of Greater Los Angeles shows this group makes up one-quarter of the county's unhoused population. However, a large portion of adults over 50 are experiencing homelessness for the first time. -
“There’s still more to be done to push for wages that can support the cost of living here and making sure access to those jobs is equitable,” said an official with a nonprofit that helps people find work. -
With Pride Month celebrations around the corner, many young people from the LGBTQ community experiencing homelessness are looking for a place to temporarily stay. -
Volunteers fanned out across the state for the first statewide count of California’s unhoused population since 2020. The number is expected to have risen, prompting more questions about the impact of the state’s increased spending. -
A new study finds 78% of L.A.’s residential land is reserved for detached, single-family houses. Researchers say those zoning patterns fuel segregation and racial income disparities.
