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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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Residents of the tent community at Echo Park Lake and allies are protesting plans by the city to close the park and clear the longstanding homeless encampment. -
Complex logistics and a lingering distrust of public officials makes it a challenge to administer COVID vaccines to people experiencing homelessness. -
Most L.A. renters were spending way too much on housing before COVID-19. The affordability crisis helped the pandemic spin out of control. -
Garcetti says the city will begin by filling 300 empty rooms. -
The Chandler Street Tiny Home Village in North Hollywood is meant to serve as 'interum' housing, and includes job training and mental health resources for residents. -
Community land trusts, or CLTs, aim to scoop up affordable housing stock before it gets into the hands of speculators, to make sure it stays permanently affordable.
