David Wagner
What I cover
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.
My background
I’ve been helping people understand their rights, housing market trends, policy changes and the solutions being proposed to fix the region’s housing crisis for more than five years.
My goals
I want my coverage to help renters, landlords and anyone else affected by L.A.’s affordability issues navigate the region’s ongoing housing crisis.
Best way to reach me
I would love to hear from you if you have questions or concerns related to housing in Southern California. You can reach out by email. I'm at dwagner@laist.com. Or, if you have a tip you’d like to share more privately, you can reach me on Signal. My username is @reporterdavidwagner.38. For instructions on getting started with Signal, see the app's support page.
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Tents may be the public face of homelessness across the region, but more people are living in vehicles. People living in their vans skyrocketed 44%. -
By some estimates, workers in L.A. County need to earn $42.73 an hour to afford a modest two-bedroom apartment. Now, many are hitting the picket lines. -
Tenant advocates warned that dismantling COVID-19 renter protections would cause homelessness to rise. Does that explain this year’s 9% increase? -
The region’s 2023 homeless count will provide a new snapshot of how many people are experiencing homelessness in L.A. County. -
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. -
Renters at Barrington Plaza want a judge to block their multibillion-dollar landlord from evicting them under California’s Ellis Act. -
Under the settlement, state officials will spell out why applications were denied — and give tenants a path to appeal the decision. -
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. -
L.A. will be part of a new federal initiative to reduce homelessness by 25% over the next two years.
