Housing

A silhouetted person stands in the foreground as a massive wildfire engulfs the hills in the distance. The night sky glows intensely red from the flames, and a house with its lights on is visible to the right, surrounded by trees.

Homelessness

How the LA fires could exacerbate California’s homelessness crisis

Lea esta historia en Español Jennielynn Holmes stood in the middle of a make-shift evacuation center when the scope of the crisis hit her. Surrounded by thousands of people that had just fled the Tubbs Fire that burned through Santa Rosa in 2017, Holmes realized many of these people would soon be added to the […]

By

Marisa Kendall

• January 15, 2025

A volunteer is seen crouching down to their knees to speak to a person inside a black and orange tent on a dark and early winter morning. Other volunteers can be seen nearby interviewing residents experiencing homelessness.

Homelessness

New homelessness data: How does California compare to the rest of the country?

Homelessness grew just 3% in California last year, compared to 18% nationwide.

By

Marisa Kendall

• January 6, 2025

Homelessness

Encampment sweeps become widespread: 2024 California homelessness year in review

Many California cities cracked down on homeless encampments after a Supreme Court ruling gave them the green light to arrest people.

By

Marisa Kendall

• December 30, 2024

Housing

Legal battles and funding woes: California housing 2024 year in review

California officials continued to fight with cities that don't want to build more housing and everyone struggled to find more money to pay for new housing.

By

Felicia Mello

• December 27, 2024

María Vela assembles a cardboard box as her family gets ready to move out of their home of nearly 30 years in East Los Angeles on Dec. 17, 2023. Photo by Adriana Heldiz, CalMatters

Housing

New law could help tenants facing eviction stay in their homes

Voters said no to expanded rent control, but tenants facing evictions will have more time to fight to keep their homes under a new California law.

By

Felicia Mello

• December 23, 2024

Dr. Rishi Patel from the Akido Street Medicine team checks on an unhoused man living in a vineyard in Arvin on May 28, 2024. Photo by Larry Valenzuela, CalMatters/CatchLight Local

Homelessness

Federal health care dollars are helping to house homeless Californians. Trump could stop that

Gov. Newsom launched an ambitious program that uses Medi-Cal to help Californians access housing, healthy food and more. Now, its fate is in the hands of President-Elect Trump.

By

Marisa Kendall

• December 12, 2024

Residential single family homes under construction in the community of Valley Center on June 3, 2021. Photo by Mike Blake, Reuters

California Divide

California AG charges construction firm with felony wage theft and tax evasion

A wood framing company is accused of stiffing workers and the state $2.6 million. Two employees could face penalties and jail if convicted.

By

Deborah Brennan

• November 26, 2024

A person wearing a beige jacket and cap walks down a city street, pulling a large, crumpled blue tarp. The scene is framed by tall buildings, parked cars, and a modern glass structure in the background. The muted urban setting is illuminated by soft, natural light, highlighting the quiet and solitary moment.

Housing

Busing people out of homelessness: How California’s relocation programs really work

Many California cities offer their homeless residents one-way bus tickets to other places.

By

Marisa Kendall

• November 26, 2024

The wooden frames of houses under construction are visible on a residential street in Goshen.

Housing

How a Trump administration could affect California’s housing crisis

President-elect Donald Trump’s housing policy for his second term is vague at best. But based on available information, many California housing experts are not optimistic about what it could mean for the state’s crisis.

By

Felicia Mello

• November 14, 2024

A bulldozer carrying rubble from an homeless encampment to a garbage truck parked in the street while a worker looks on.

Homelessness

One issue Trump and Newsom agree on? Homeless encampments

Experts predict funding cuts and policy changes. But Trump and Newsom appear to agree on encampment sweeps.

By

Marisa Kendall

• November 8, 2024