Sara Al-Ansari
Los Angeles is home to Hollywood films, prestigious award ceremonies and a booming music industry. Reality and television shows such as keeping up With the Kardashians and the Fresh Prince of Bel-Air are popular originals that flourished from the grounds of LA. Lebron James and the Lakers, real estate properties with stretched-out patios and captivating mountain views, and Michelin star restaurants are all some of the many features that paint the exquisite image of Los Angeles.
However, the City of Angels is not all so glamorous.; it has a much darker side.
Los Angeles is one of the world’s most famous cities, and everyone has some thoughts about it, whether they have been there or not. However, its success comes with a cost, transforming the city in ways big and small.
The city is amidst an unprecedented housing crisis, jeopardizing its reputation as a place of economic opportunity.
According to a recent analysis report issued by the California Housing Partnership, Los Angeles is facing a shortage of approximately 500,000 affordable rental homes. Moreover, the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic have further increased the problems faced by low-income tenants in LA County. A household would need to earn at least $38.23 per hour - about two-and-a-half times the minimum wage - to meet the region’s average rent of $1,988 per month.
This contributes to the city’s chronic homelessness catastrophe.
The rise in housing costs, stagnant wages, lack of tenant protective rights, and the scarcity of affordable mental health services and programs add to the growth of homelessness in this city. The definition of homelessness is not limited to people living on the streets but also those who couch surf, sleep in cars and public transportation, shelters and transitional housing. However, some live in extreme places not meant for human habitation.
Homelessness is more visible now than ever because of COVID-19, and it is expected to worsen over the next couple of years. According to a 2020 count report by Los Angeles Homeless Service Authority, at least 63,000 people are experiencing homelessness.
Los Angeles has also long been regarded as one of the most congested and polluted cities in the United States.
The average Angeleno spends about five days per year stuck in traffic, costing them roughly $1,000 each year.
Moreover, the amount of furniture and trash dumped on the streets worsens every year. Illegal dumping in Los Angeles has increased public health risks and lowered the environment’s quality. Almost 10 million tons of furniture end up in American landfills every year.
From a housing crisis that can drive individuals and households to the streets, high crime rates, climate issues and among many more, Los Angeles is far from the glamour that many may have in mind.
Sara Al-Ansari is a journalist and a faculty member at Qatar University’s Media and Mass Communication department. She’s also a graduate student in the Specialized Journalism program at the University of Southern California in Los Angeles.
Sara Al-Ansari is a journalist and a faculty member at Qatar University’s Media and Mass Communication department. She’s also a graduate student in the Specialized Journalism program at the University of Southern California in Los Angeles.
