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Housing

The high cost of housing poses a threat to the state’s economic future and widens inequality. Not surprisingly, Californians identify housing affordability and homelessness as among the most important issues facing the state. PPIC examines current and emerging housing needs and highlights the role of public policies in addressing the state’s housing crisis.

Recent Content

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photo - Building with Wood for a Carbon Neutral Sustainable
Blog Post · April 8, 2024

The Holy Grail of a Zero-Carbon Home

Sarah Bardeen

photo - Bunks in a Homeless Shelter
Blog Post · March 21, 2024

An Update on Homelessness in California

Marisol Cuellar Mejia, Cesar Alesi Perez

photo - Elementary Schoolboy in Classroom Sitting at Desk and Having Trouble with a Test
Blog Post · March 13, 2024

Learning Recovery for Homeless Students Lags behind Other High-Need Groups

Brett Guinan, Julien Lafortune

photo - People in Line with Shopping Carts Waiting To Pay at Megastore
Blog Post · March 12, 2024

Testimony: Most Californians Are “Pretty Happy” but a Growing Share Are “Not Too Happy”

Mark Baldassare

photo - Teenage Boy Sleeping on Cot with Others in Background at Homeless Shelter
Blog Post · March 5, 2024

Student Homelessness Reaches 10% or Higher in Some Counties

Brett Guinan, Julien Lafortune

photo - Woman at Apartment Door Activating Alarm as Leaving
Blog Post · February 27, 2024

California’s Renters

Eric McGhee, Marisol Cuellar Mejia, Hans Johnson

photo - Elementary School Girl Looking Down and Sitting on School Yard Alone
Blog Post · February 26, 2024

Student Homelessness Rises to Pre-Pandemic Levels

Brett Guinan, Julien Lafortune

photo - Los Angeles skyline in downtown showing office buildings and traffic
Blog Post · February 22, 2024

Video: California’s Economic Future

Mary Severance

photo - Open Road Through California Desert
Blog Post · February 13, 2024

Where Are Californians Going When They Leave the Golden State?

Eric McGhee, Hans Johnson

photo - Moving Boxes in Living Room of New Home
Blog Post · February 7, 2024

Who’s Leaving California—and Who’s Moving In?

Hans Johnson, Eric McGhee

photo - California State Capitol Building at Twilight
Blog Post · February 2, 2024

Video: A Conversation with Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas

Stephanie Barton

Explainer · January 2024

Making Sense of California’s Economy

Sarah Bohn, Marisol Cuellar Mejia, Julien Lafortune, Vicki Hsieh

photo - California Poppy Bloom on Grass Mountain Trail, Santa Barbara County
Blog Post · December 14, 2023

2023 Year in Review

Tani Cantil-Sakauye

photo - California State Capitol
Blog Post · December 13, 2023

Video: Californians and Their Government

Stephanie Barton

photo - Aerial View of Suburban Residential Homes in Bakersfield, California
Blog Post · December 7, 2023

Many California Renters Remain Financially Stressed

Hans Johnson, Eric McGhee

photo - California State Capitol
Statewide Survey · December 2023

PPIC Statewide Survey: Californians and Their Government

Mark Baldassare, Dean Bonner, Lauren Mora, Deja Thomas

photo - Mother and Daughters at Check Out Counter
Blog Post · November 16, 2023

Video: Californians and Their Economic Well-Being

Mary Severance

photo - Mother and Daughters at Check Out Counter
Statewide Survey · November 2023

PPIC Statewide Survey: Californians and Their Economic Well-Being

Mark Baldassare, Dean Bonner, Lauren Mora, Deja Thomas

photo - Late Summer Sunrise over Los Angeles
Blog Post · October 23, 2023

How to Keep Buildings Cool in California’s Warming Climate

Sarah Bardeen

photo - Multi-unit loft in Los Angeles
Blog Post · August 10, 2023

Multi-unit Housing Is Becoming More Common, but Has Low Homeownership Rates

Hans Johnson, Eric McGhee

photo - Row of Townhomes in Stages of Construction
Blog Post · August 9, 2023

Large Cities Lose Population even as They Add New Housing

Hans Johnson

photo - Aerial view of southern California houses
Blog Post · August 8, 2023

Desire for Action on Housing Contrasts with How Californians Want to Live

Dean Bonner

photo - California State Capitol
Statewide Survey · June 2023

PPIC Statewide Survey: Californians and Their Government

Mark Baldassare, Dean Bonner, Rachel Lawler, Deja Thomas

photo - California State Courthouse Building in Sacramento
Blog Post · May 31, 2023

Video: A Conversation with California Attorney General Rob Bonta

Stephanie Barton

photo - Homeless Tents Along the Roadside in Downtown Los Angeles
Blog Post · April 14, 2023

Californians See a Rise in Homelessness in Their Communities

Deja Thomas

Flooded Township of Pajaro, pixel ca dwr 2023_03_12_KJ_0069_Pajaro_Levee_Break_Drone
Blog Post · April 12, 2023

Storms, Floods, and COVID-19 Have Worsened Long-standing Farmworker Housing Challenges

Paulette Cha

photo - Woman Packing Up Apartment
Blog Post · March 27, 2023

Housing Costs Have Californians Considering an Interstate Move

Dean Bonner

photo - Aerial View of Suburbs in South Orange County, California
Blog Post · March 22, 2023

Despite State Action, Grim Views on Housing Persist

Dean Bonner

photo - Inside the Capitol Rotunda in Sacramento, California
Blog Post · March 17, 2023

Video: Women in California’s Legislature

Mary Severance

photo - Day of Graduation at University
Explainer · March 2023

Is College Worth It?

Marisol Cuellar Mejia, Cesar Alesi Perez, Vicki Hsieh, Hans Johnson

photo - California State Capitol Amid Downtown Office Buildings
Blog Post · March 7, 2023

Californians’ Views on Governor Newsom and the State of the State

Mark Baldassare

photo - Row of Small Houses
Blog Post · March 6, 2023

Eviction Rates Plunged During the Early Part of the Pandemic

Joseph Herrera, Jennifer Paluch

photo - African American family enjoying the outdoors
Blog Post · February 22, 2023

California’s African American Community

Eric McGhee

photo - Young woman with her child in a shelter
Blog Post · February 21, 2023

Homeless Populations Are Rising around California

Jennifer Paluch, Joseph Herrera

photo - California State Capitol
Blog Post · February 10, 2023

Video: Californians and Their Government

Vicki Hsieh

photo - Flags Fly at California's Capital Building
Blog Post · February 3, 2023

Video: A Conversation with California’s Legislative Leadership

Mary Severance

photo - California State Capitol
Statewide Survey · February 2023

PPIC Statewide Survey: Californians and Their Government

Mark Baldassare, Dean Bonner, Rachel Lawler, Deja Thomas

Person Filling Up the Car in a Gas Station
Blog Post · November 18, 2022

Video: Californians and Their Economic Well-Being

Vicki Hsieh

photo - Suburban Homes
Blog Post · November 17, 2022

Shrinking Household Size Strains California’s Housing Market

Marisol Cuellar Mejia, Hans Johnson, Julien Lafortune

Person Filling Up the Car in a Gas Station
Statewide Survey · November 2022

PPIC Statewide Survey: Californians and Their Economic Well-Being

Mark Baldassare, Dean Bonner, Rachel Lawler, Deja Thomas

photo - Woman Paying Bills at Kitchen Table
Blog Post · November 3, 2022

Inflation Squeezes Californians’ Budgets, despite Wage Growth

Sarah Bohn, Marisol Cuellar Mejia, Julien Lafortune

photo - Back of Truck Packed with Household Items
Blog Post · October 17, 2022

The Politics of Leaving California

Eric McGhee, Hans Johnson

photo - Line of People Waiting To Vote for an Election
Blog Post · October 14, 2022

Video: 2022 Election Preview

Vicki Hsieh

photo - Homeless Encampment on a Street in California
Blog Post · October 13, 2022

Video: Homelessness in California’s Cities

Mary Severance

photo - External Emergency Room and Ambulance
Blog Post · October 7, 2022

Video: How Hospital Discharge Data Can Inform State Homelessness Policy

Mary Severance

photo - Homeless Encampment in Downtown Los Angeles
Blog Post · October 4, 2022

Most Californians Continue to Identify Homelessness as a Big Problem

Deja Thomas

photo - California State Capitol
Blog Post · September 23, 2022

Video: Californians and Their Government

Vicki Hsieh

photo - External Emergency Room and Ambulance
Report · September 2022

How Hospital Discharge Data Can Inform State Homelessness Policy

Shannon McConville, Hemal Kanzaria, Renee Hsia, Maria Raven ...

photo - External Emergency Room and Ambulance
Policy Brief · September 2022

Policy Brief: How Hospital Discharge Data Can Inform State Homelessness Policy

Shannon McConville, Hemal Kanzaria, Renee Hsia, Maria Raven ...

photo - California State Capitol
Statewide Survey · September 2022

PPIC Statewide Survey: Californians and Their Government

Mark Baldassare, Dean Bonner, Rachel Lawler, Deja Thomas

photo - Three Work Colleagues Talking in Open Office
Blog Post · September 6, 2022

California’s Evolving Economy

Sarah Bohn

photo - Woman Packing and Stacking Moving Boxes
Blog Post · August 16, 2022

California’s Population Shifts May Lead to New Income Divides

Eric McGhee

photo - Houses on Residential Street
Blog Post · July 21, 2022

California’s High Housing Costs Have Created a Million “House Rich” Millionaires

Hans Johnson

photo - Old Neighborhood in Sacramento, California
Blog Post · June 14, 2022

Homeownership Trends in California

Hans Johnson, Marisol Cuellar Mejia, Julien Lafortune, Cesar Alesi Perez

photo - Carrying Moving Box
Blog Post · June 8, 2022

Racial/Ethnic Differences in Who’s Leaving California

Eric McGhee

photo - Elderly Man in Hotel Room Looking out Window
Blog Post · June 7, 2022

Early Evidence of Shifts in Local Homeless Populations during the Pandemic

Marisol Cuellar Mejia, Joseph Herrera, Hans Johnson

photo - Aerial View of Subdivision in Irvine, California
Blog Post · May 13, 2022

California’s Housing Divide

Marisol Cuellar Mejia, Hans Johnson, Julien Lafortune

photo - Residential Building in San Francisco
Blog Post · April 22, 2022

Many California Renters Fear Eviction Despite Increased Aid

Hans Johnson, Marisol Cuellar Mejia, Julien Lafortune

photo - Homeless Encampment on a Street in California
Blog Post · April 14, 2022

Views on Homelessness Have Shifted in Some California Regions

Deja Thomas

photo - Woman and Piles of Bills
Blog Post · March 29, 2022

High Prices Causing Financial Hardships for Many Californians

Rachel Lawler

photo - Bunks in a Homeless Shelter
Blog Post · March 2, 2022

A Snapshot of Homeless Californians in Shelters

Marisol Cuellar Mejia, Hans Johnson, Joseph Herrera

photo - Home Construction on Hillside
Blog Post · December 3, 2021

New Housing Fails to Make Up for Decades of Undersupply

Eric McGhee, Jennifer Paluch, Vicki Hsieh

photo - Wildfire Damaged Car
Blog Post · November 29, 2021

After Wildfire, How Do We Rebuild for a “Resilient Recovery”?

Sarah Bardeen

photo - Houses in Orange County, California
Blog Post · August 13, 2021

California’s High Housing Costs Increase Poverty

Patricia Malagon, Caroline Danielson

photo - University of California Los Angeles Campus, Aerial View
Blog Post · July 14, 2021

Enrollment Increases Will Require More Housing for UC and CSU Students

Hans Johnson

photo - Elderly Man in Hotel Room Looking out Window
Blog Post · December 4, 2020

What Lessons Can Be Learned from Project Roomkey?

Shannon McConville

photo - San Francisco houses
Report · January 2020

California’s Future: Housing

Hans Johnson, Marisol Cuellar Mejia, Julien Lafortune