Lewis Center launches housing initiative
The Lewis Center for Regional Policy Studies recently launched an initiative to combine innovative research with practical strategies to tackle housing affordability issues in the Los Angeles region.
The Randall Lewis Housing Initiative was established as the Los Angeles region faces a growing affordability and homelessness crisis. Not only are rents and home prices in the LA metro area among the highest in the country, but Angelenos rank among the most rent-burdened households. This rental affordability crisis most acutely impacts poor households.
Experts regularly identify the restriction of new housing and insufficient tenant protections as two of the most significant factors contributing to housing unaffordability and instability. The initiative’s research will focus on these subject areas — housing supply and tenant protections — and endeavor to produce novel analysis of current affordability challenges and propose practical policy solutions. Aside from new research, the initiative will act as a clearinghouse for housing information and research, and convene events on relevant topics, including the Housing, Equity and Community series.
Michael Lens, associate faculty director of the Lewis Center and head of the initiative, said its mission is to produce and promote research on how to build more housing while protecting renters.
“Above all, the goal is to create an objective, rigorous source of knowledge for housing, land use, and planning decision-makers,” Lens said.
The initiative has already produced briefs on regional zoning regulations, vacancy rates, and which tenants LA should prioritize during its post-COVID recovery efforts. A policy brief on reforms to the rent stabilization ordinance was also published, with its recommendations later being adopted into a motion by LA Councilmember Mike Bonin. Its most recent event about housing during the pandemic was held in partnership with the UCLA Luskin Summit.
Shane Phillips was hired to manage the housing initiative. “I’m excited to join the Lewis Center team and help our students, faculty, and staff elevate UCLA as a go-to source for high-quality housing research and policy recommendations,” he said. “Our goal is to tackle issues from all corners of housing policy, from zoning to rent control to tax credits, and I think we’re off to a great start.”
