The rent eats first, they say. But how do people survive when the rent also eats almost everything?

Researchers at the University of Southern California Price Center for Social Innovation recently published the results of a massive survey of Los Angeles-area renters to gather data on the effects of the region's housing affordability crisis.
The "How do Renters Cope with Unaffordability?" report was led by Jovanna Rosen, Sean Angst, Soledad De Gregorio, and Gary Painter, who spent 2019 conducting surveys in Spanish and English in the Los Angeles Promise Zone (LAPZ), Central Los Angeles, and the South Los Angeles Promise Zone (SLATE-Z).
Key findings from the report include data showing many households cutting back on basic household needs to account for rent burdens.
"A majority of households have cut back their consumption of basic needs over the past two years in order to afford rent, including food, clothing, and entertainment and family activities. Many have acquired more debt as well," according to the report.
"Over 60 percent of surveyed households reduced food consumption and approximately 45 percent reduced spending on clothing and/or entertainment and family activities. About 45 percent of households reported delaying bill payment or taking on additional debt. About one in five households reduced their health expenses, and nearly the same share reduced education expenses. Roughly one in three households reduced their transportation costs."
The full report of the survey's findings are available to read online, with significant details included about how and where these finds varied.
FULL STORY: How do Renters Cope with Unaffordability?

The Right to Mobility
As we consider how to decarbonize transportation, preserving mobility, especially for lower- and middle-income people, must be a priority.

Early Sharrow Booster: ‘I Was Wrong’
The lane marking was meant to raise awareness and instill shared respect among drivers and cyclists. But their inefficiency has led supporters to denounce sharrows, pushing instead for more robust bike infrastructure that truly protects riders.

Push and Pull: The Link Between Walkability and Affordability
The increased demand for walkable urban spaces could make them more and more exclusionary if cities don’t pursue policies to limit displacement and boost affordability.

Memphis: Crime-fighting Camera Sheds Light on Police Abuse
The irony is unmistakable. Public surveillance cameras, long controversial in the criminal justice community, provided pivotal video footage of the beating of motorist Tyre Nichols by five Memphis police officers at a traffic stop on January 7.

How Autonomous Cars Could Impact Energy Use
The complex algorithms used by self-driving vehicle technology use massive amounts of energy, which could lead to a steep rise in carbon emissions as autonomous cars become more commonplace.

Safe Streets Grants Announced
The federal Safe Streets and Roads for All program funds planning and implementation for road safety projects aimed at reducing traffic deaths and building safe infrastructure for pedestrians, cyclists, and other vulnerable road users.
Texas A&M AgriLife Extension
York County Government
York County, Human Resources
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
Harvard GSD Executive Education
City of Culver City
Sonoma County Transportation Authority
City of Piedmont, CA
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.