In the city of Los Angeles, where 65 percent of residents rent their housing, only 17 percent of rentable units on the market are affordable for low-income families. The housing crisis has grown larger in recent years. Leonard Woods, an 18-year resident of Los Angeles, said “it’s never been this bad or this hard to afford a place to live.”
Eric Ares for Community Connection reported that over 300 Los Angeles residents rallied on the steps of the Los Angeles City Hall last month. The residents represented a variety of income levels and housing backgrounds. After the rally, L.A. City Councilmember Gil Cedillo officially recognized April 23 as “Renters’ Day” in the city, stating, “Renters are at the core of Los Angeles’ economic recovery, making up more than 65 percent of our City’s residents. Yet, renters at all income levels continue to face real displacement. Today, the City recognizes this critical population and the need for relief. Renters make LA work, we need to make LA work for renters.”
Despite the sense of achievement that buzzed through the crowd at City Hall following the proclamation, the residents acknowledged that the celebration was one very small step toward larger change for renters.
