Students explore novel pathway to increase homeownership
USC Price students are recognized for their work on land contracts, legal agreements that allow homebuyers to make payments directly to the seller instead of a bank.
Report: Low-income renters can’t afford rent in nearly 45% of America’s largest metro areas
Since 2013, more than 80% of the country’s most populous regions dropped in renter affordability, with Black and Latino households particularly impacted, an analysis by the USC Dornsife Equity Research Institute finds.
Living expenses on the rise for a growing percentage of Angelenos
USC Dornsife’s latest LABarometer survey on affordability and prosperity finds that more than half the county experienced rising costs for local goods and services as well as housing in 2021.
Missed rent payments dropped nearly 11% in states that raised minimum wage
The study is the first to specifically analyze how renters may benefit from minimum wage increases and how property owners capitalize on those increases: Rent hikes quickly followed the minimum wage increases.
Unique partnership seeks creative solutions to housing shortage
USC Price urban planning students work to provide new ideas that could help Southern California communities increase their housing supply.
The top USC stories of 2021 that you couldn’t help but share
Year in review: From a much-awaited series of commencements for two classes to a special homecoming and more, check out some of this year’s most popular stories.
USC Alumna Prioritizes Sustainability and Access as California’s State Architect
As California state architect, Ida Clair ’87 helps set the standard for building sustainability, accessibility and safety.
Social safety net can become a web for low-income L.A. families who start to earn more
USC researchers say increased transparency and more robust benefits for low-income families are needed — particularly when it comes to housing — even after their wages go up to help avoid “plateaus” and “cliffs.”
LAUSD students experiencing homelessness are everywhere, yet hard to find
Almost a quarter of district schools have homeless rates above 5%, a USC study found, and many homeless students transfer schools frequently.
10% of Angelenos plan to leave county even as residents’ consumer confidence rises
Still, the USC Dornsife-Union Bank LABarometer livability survey finds people perceive less crime, vandalism and drug and alcohol use in their neighborhoods than they did in 2019.
Why does L.A. have so many COVID-19 cases?
A lack of affordable housing and the resulting crowded apartments play a major role in L.A. County’s nearly 1.2 million confirmed coronavirus cases, USC experts say.
🎧 Envisioning L.A. housing in a post-COVID world
From increased density to neighborhood development, John Dutton of the USC School of Architecture predicts what Los Angeles will look like after the pandemic.
Sobering picture of L.A. County’s social and economic conditions documented in USC Dornsife report
Many residents are struggling with basics like housing, health care, food and education. The USC Dornsife-Union Bank LABarometer report brings new data to an old problem: accessibility and affordability of essentials.
Even before the pandemic, struggling L.A. renters cut back on food, clothes and transportation
Researchers with the USC Sol Price Center for Social Innovation say that rent-burdened households’ spending cutbacks have become semi-permanent changes, impacting their quality of life.
California gives rent control another chance on the 2020 ballot
In a state with notoriously high housing costs, voters will consider yet another new take on rent control. USC experts dissect the pros and cons of Proposition 21.
Despite economic recovery, housing challenges persist in L.A. and California
A new USC analysis of the Los Angeles and Golden State economies shows that rental affordability, homeownership and certain other indicators never fully rebounded from the Great Recession.
How can cities adapt to the needs of their aging populations?
USC’s experts in aging envision how a deluge of older adults in urban areas might reshape transportation, home design and human connection.
1 in 5 tenants in L.A. County has struggled with rent during the pandemic
A study from USC and UCLA researchers found that thousands of L.A. renters are facing housing-related money problems — and landlords reportedly already started eviction proceedings against 40,000 of them.
How will COVID-19 impact L.A. County’s most vulnerable communities?
A new USC Dornsife analysis of marginalized communities in Los Angeles County reveals who will be hit the hardest by the coronavirus pandemic, including seniors and undocumented workers.
Cities can learn from how Los Angeles is starting to address homelessness
Though L.A. is far from sheltering all of its citizens, the director of USC’s Initiative to Eliminate Homelessness believes the city’s recent efforts on are the right track.
How much does Airbnb really affect rents and housing prices?
Research indicates that Airbnb is increasing rent and housing prices in certain areas, including Los Angeles. USC professors weigh in on how cities — and the company itself — can set rules that will benefit local communities.
Lack of affordable rent plagues cities across the United States
USC researchers have developed a new method of calculating affordability that spotlights the growing disparity between rents and wages, one that affects renters at all income levels.
How USC Student Veterans Are Transitioning to College Life
USC expands initiatives that help veterans find success in academics, social networking and career development.
More research on permanent supportive housing needed, report finds
USC’s Suzanne Wenzel co-authors the report, which concludes there is an urgency for more studies on the topic.