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 study finds promising early results from a program that tries to find and assist those most at risk of becoming unhoused. -
Ahead of July 4th celebrations, stockpiles of fireworks exploded inside homes in Pacoima and Simi Valley. -
L.A. homeowners are building thousands of backyard units. A new City Council motion aims to let them sell, and not just rent out, those ADUs. -
Civil rights groups allege feds have targeted people based on skin color and blocked detainees from seeing lawyers. Officials say actions have been lawful and “highly targeted.” -
Most L.A. apartments are covered by the city’s decades-old rent control law. New limits on annual rent hikes take effect July 1 without reforms that have been waiting for a City Council vote. -
Legal aid and rent relief for L.A. tenants facing eviction is set to continue after the City Council voted to temporarily extend a contract the city attorney refused to sign. -
After the LA fires, mortgage companies promised to give devastated homeowners a break. Some have notBorrowers who lost homes tell LAist their banks are not following the rules of a state mortgage relief program. Some have been told they could face foreclosure. -
An order against hiking rents more than 10% after January’s wildfires was set to expire on July 1. The L.A. County Board of Supervisors voted to extend it until July 31. -
Renters have been getting legal aid and rent relief through Stay Housed L.A. for years. If Hydee Feldstein Soto lets the city’s contract lapse, those services could end June 30. -
Two-thirds of undocumented households were already burdened by L.A. housing costs. With breadwinners locked up and workplaces closed, paying rent is only getting harder.
Stories by David Wagner
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