Housing

Podcast: The strange politics behind California’s rent cap bill

In this episode of Gimme Shelter, Matt Levin of CalMatters and Liam Dillon of the Los Angeles Times discuss the shifting politics and policy of Assembly Bill 1482, and its prospects for becoming law.

By

Matt Levin

• September 6, 2019

Section 8 voucher holder struggles to find an apartment in Fresno.

California Divide

Lawmakers tackle a severe housing shortage for renters who have federal vouchers

The biggest federal housing program for low-income renters is failing to help many Californians because there aren’t enough landlords who accept Section 8 vouchers for rent. State lawmakers are considering two solutions, a carrot and a stick.

By

Manuela Tobias

and

Jackie Botts

• August 28, 2019

Kaye, who asked that we not use her last name, continues to receive a monthly rental subsidy from the City of Santa Monica as part of a pilot program to help seniors stay in their homes. Photo by Amita Sharma

Housing

California looks to Santa Monica as it ramps up rent subsidies for seniors

Over the last year, the city has experimented with sending rental checks to nearly two dozen seniors and now wants to expand the program exponentially.

By

Amita Sharma, KPBS

• August 27, 2019

Housing

Podcast: How housing vouchers work (or don’t) in California

On this episode of "Gimme Shelter: The California Housing Crisis Podcast," CalMatters' Matt Levin and the Los Angeles Times' Liam Dillon interview state Sen. Holly Mitchell about her bill banning discrimination against Section 8 voucher holders.

By

Matt Levin

• August 26, 2019

Patsy’s Irish Pub in Mission Viejo, where 55 % of young adults in this part of Orange County live at home. Photo by Kevin Sullivan, Orange County Register/SCNG

Housing

Nearly 40 percent of young adult Californians live with their parents. Here’s everything to know about them

A data dive explores who they are, where they are and why they still live at home —and yes, how they manage to have sex.

By

Matt Levin

• August 25, 2019

Julieta Aquino in her own bedroom, which she helped build, in Fremont on June 17, 2019. She previously shared a bed with her teenage daughter in a 2 bedroom condo with 8 other people. Photo by Stephanie Lister/KQED

Housing

DIY affordable housing: How this Bay Area woman helped build her dream home

Julieta Aquino and her daughter are among a group of 11 low-income families who recently became homeowners in a new Fremont housing development — one they helped build over the past two years as participants in a local Habitat for Humanity project. Each family was required to put in 500 hours of so-called sweat equity, pounding nails and pouring concrete on the construction site.

By

Matthew Green, KQED

• August 21, 2019

Larry Block owns Block Party, one of a handful of gay-owned and gay-centric shops left on Santa Monica Blvd. in West Hollywood. He’s lived in WeHo since 1985, but worries the neighborhood is going too mainstream. Photo by Elizabeth Aguilera for CalMatters

Housing

Gentrification is changing California’s iconic gay communities

Experts say neighborhoods that emerged as havens for gay Californians are now feeling the effects of rising home prices, shifting cultural norms and new ways of connecting.

By

Elizabeth Aguilera

• August 14, 2019

An aerAn aerial image of Portland, Oregon, which just passed significant rent control protections. Photo by Chronus via Wikimedia Commons.

Housing

Podcast: Oregon tenants did this to win renter protection—is California next?

California tenant advocates flummoxed by reluctant Democratic lawmakers have a new north star to guide their political strategy: Oregon.

By

Matt Levin

• August 5, 2019

The violent 1994 Northridge quake caused the collapse of the upper floor of the Northridge Meadows apartment complex, killing 16 people.

Housing

Podcast: Newsom wants to build 3.5 million homes—the very number a doomsday earthquake is forecast to damage

On this episode of "Gimme Shelter: The California Housing Crisis Podcast," CalMatters' Matt Levin and the Los Angeles Times' Liam Dillon explore how "the big one" could exacerbate California's housing shortage.

By

Matt Levin

• July 18, 2019

Van liver Travis Wild eats breakfast with his dog, Ayla.

Housing

Dream Big, Live Small: Why The Van Life Is Taking Hold in California

A growing enclave of millennials is choosing van life as an alternative to a 9-to-5 job and a mortgage. These young professionals —artists, web developers, accountants—want the freedom to explore without the pressure of punching time cards and keeping busy social schedules.

By

Sammy Caiola, Capital Public Radio

• July 14, 2019