David Wagner
Housing Reporter
(he/him)
I cover housing in Southern California, a place where ever-rising rents and a persistent lack of affordable housing have led to many living on the edge of homelessness. I help people understand their rights, housing market trends, policy changes and the solutions being proposed to fix the region’s housing crisis.
I grew up in Anaheim, where my parents had the car radio constantly tuned to LAist 89.3 (formerly KPCC). Before coming to KPCC and LAist, I covered science for the NPR affiliate in San Diego, KPBS.
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A new state bill aims to unlock church lands, giving religious groups the right to build housing “in God’s backyard.” -
Skid Row Housing Trust receiver Mark Adams told the judge if he can’t secure operational funding soon, security guards will walk off the job.
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Renters at Barrington Plaza want a judge to block their multibillion-dollar landlord from evicting them under California’s Ellis Act.
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Under the settlement, state officials will spell out why applications were denied — and give tenants a path to appeal the decision.
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L.A. County landlords file thousands of evictions every month, and most tenants can’t get a lawyer. Here’s what happens when they go to court.
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L.A. will be part of a new federal initiative to reduce homelessness by 25% over the next two years.
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On average, two unhoused people in L.A. County died from overdoses every day in 2020 and 2021.
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A new study finds drawn-out city approvals and slow electrical hookups contribute to L.A.’s ongoing housing shortage.
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A new report finds that the region’s homeless services sector rarely pays workers a living wage.
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A massive fire broke out at Barrington Plaza in 2020. The landlords say they must clear everyone out to install sprinklers.
Stories by David Wagner
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