Los Angeles Wildfires Exacerbate Longstanding Housing Crisis in Southern California

Wind-driven wildfires have devastated Los Angeles County, leading to evacuation orders for nearly 200,000 people and destroying thousands of homes and businesses. The fires have worsened an existing housing crisis, with only 24 affordable homes available for every 100 extremely low-income renter households and 75,000 people already homeless. Recovery is expected to be slow, exacerbated by rising rents and a stretched network of service organizations. California's anti-price gouging law aims to protect tenants post-disaster, but more protections are needed to prevent permanent displacement.