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Lack of Affordable Housing Driving More Los Angeles County Families into Poverty

Key Findings

  • A renter household needs to earn 4 times the state minimum wage in order to afford average asking rents in Los Angeles County.
  • Inflation-adjusted median rents in Los Angeles County increased 27% from 2000 to 2013, while inflation adjusted median renter household income declined 7%.
  • Los Angeles County needs 527,722 additional affordable rental homes to meet the needs of its extremely low income (ELI) and very low-income (VLI) renters.
  • The vast majority of Los Angeles County’s low-income renters spend more than 50% of income on rent, leaving little left for food, transportation, health expenses, and other needs.
  • When housing costs are considered, Los Angeles County has one of the highest poverty rates in the country at 26%, or one in four households.
  • Overcrowding for low-income renters In Los Angeles County is three times greater than the national average, contributing significantly to poor health and academic achievement among low-income children.
  • Reductions in federal and state funds and elimination of redevelopment have reduced Los Angeles County’s affordable housing funding by over $466 million since 2008, a 65% reduction.