The Unequal Distribution of Public Housing Across Los Angeles

Rina Palta and Aaron Mendelson share the results of a mapping project that shows the location of publicly funded affordable housing developments. According to the analysis, public housing projects in Los Angeles County are overwhelmingly located in the poorest neighborhoods in the county.

"According to a KPCC analysis of state treasurer records and U.C. Census data, nearly two-thirds of projects funded over the past decade using the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit program in L.A. County have gone into areas where the average household earns less than $40,000 a year," the article explains.

With that reality as a background, advocates, researchers, and developers are building a case to allow more equitable distribution of public housing projects across the county. Palta and Mendelson are able to offer many examples of the case for fair distribution of affordable housing failing to win support from residents (not to mention political will from local and regional officials) around the county, however.