Eda Suh

Eda is a Master of Urban and Regional Planning focusing on statewide housing and community and economic development. Prior to her current studies, she spent over 20 years as an attorney representing local government and litigating cases to protect the interests of tenants, consumers, and residents. Upon graduation, Eda hopes to use her planning degree and legal work experience to help address regional housing, employment/wage, and community economic challenges.

Project Overview

In 2022, the United to House LA (ULA) ballot measure established a sustainable funding source for the city of Los Angeles to address affordable housing production and homelessness prevention, including funding for social housing initiatives. My capstone client, ACT-LA, a coalition of organizations with expertise in housing justice, has been instrumental in advancing the social housing movement in Los Angeles. ACT-LA defines social housing as a model that empowers communities by leveraging city-owned land or leasing existing buildings to community-led organizations for the development and management of housing. For my capstone project, I will be working with ACT-LA to review and analyze evolving financing, ownership, and management frameworks to help evaluate thoughtful and innovative practices to support social housing in Los Angeles.

Why is this topic, specifically, important to you?

Exploring innovative housing models, such as social housing development in Los Angeles, aligns seamlessly with my deep-seated interests in inclusive affordable housing, sustainable urban planning practices, and the exercise of local government powers.

Who are the partners involved in this project and how will you be working with them?

I will be working closely with my project partner ACT-LA.

How do you hope that this project will impact the field moving forward?

The proposed capstone project will allow me to explore current housing and urban planning challenges in greater depth, while leveraging my legal background in housing to advance research and advocate for progressive public policies addressing local housing issues.