How do people do it (Los Angeles, Long Beach: low income, section 8, apartments)

[Upstateman92]

How do the people in la that have **** jobs or no jobs or bad credit etc afford to live there ?
How do the welfare scammers , illegals , drug addicts , and other low income dead end job people afford to live in a city with the best weather on the planet and great outdoors and ammenities ?

I know I wouldn't want to live like that , sure la is probably the #1 city I would choose to live in for the reasons I just mentioned but I can say I couldn't afford it , sure I could swing rent , but truck payment , gas , insurance , everyday expenses , etc I wouldn't be living . Why live somewhere so great if you can't enjoy what makes it great

But back on track how do the lazy , low income , ghetto area etc how do they stay there ?

[ryanms3030]

They live in rent controlled apts, section 8 or houses that have been in the families for generations and then they stick like 10 or more people into 2-3 bedrooms

[jacktravern]

Buildings in poorer area don't run credit or they would have too hard of a time filling vacancies.
Also LA is ground zero for Illegals, as mentioned they will load up in apartment, houses, find the fun in simple things, and become very resourceful at doing things like small car repairs. Schools in LAUSD nowadays regardless of income give kids free breakfast, lunch, after school meals and even an early supper in some cases.

Much like NYC, the culture here is completely normal to be 30, 40 something living with roommates.

[jm1982]

Same as they are able to live in any high cost city .

Rent control , section 8 , living with family that might have paid off homes or tiny mortgages

Bunking up and putting many people in one apartment or house .

[saybanana]

LA is not the only city in the region. You see that in all these lower income communities in South Central region from Long Beach to Carson to South Gate, Huntington Park, Whittier, Also in the San Gabriel Valley eastern areas. Orange County has communities like that, too. Not everyone is paying $2000 for a 1 bedroom or $3000 for 2 bedroom. Do you think people in Compton or Watts are paying $3000 like people do in Beverly Hills or Santa Monica? So many areas including LA City have these converted garages which are cheap and non-standard apartments. Also people also live in generational families. Grandparents, parents, aunts/uncles grandchildren in a larger home. So you have maybe 4-6 incomes contributing towards household income.

[Upstateman92]

Interesting stuff . Isn't that illegal to stuff people into an apartment that aren't on the lease ?
Or do the landlords just not care because it's undesirable areas .

How has the city not caught up with demand and creates more affordable housing for the middle class . People that don't want to live with 3 people but also aren't blessed with a 100k tech job

[Mr_Geek]

Most landlords are oblivious and/or don’t care that people are stuffing 10 bodies in a small apartment. They just want the rent $. Sure some care but most don’t.

[jm1982]

Yeah I used to work with a lady that lived in one of those apartments .
She said the owners didn't care how many people lived in each unit .

They also sounded like slumlords and she said they wouldn't fix stuff or they would wait until they could find a part to fix things at thrift stores or discount stores .

I used to pass by the building . Good location as it was in Westwood area near the VA but it was a very old building and looked pretty run down .

Same family owned a dry cleaners across the street she said. Would be interesting to hear their story . They must be worth many millions owning prime property.

[ryanms3030]

Originally Posted by Upstateman92

Interesting stuff . Isn't that illegal to stuff people into an apartment that aren't on the lease ?
Or do the landlords just not care because it's undesirable areas .

How has the city not caught up with demand and creates more affordable housing for the middle class . People that don't want to live with 3 people but also aren't blessed with a 100k tech job

There isn't much unused space for new construction. Zoning laws make it difficult to build new homes and especially difficult to build large multi unit buildings. People who own property are generally against anything that will create thousands of new homes or apartments because it will negatively effect property values. When developers can build new construction they are building luxury apartment buildings because it's profitable. Just like NYC and SF, LA is never going to be an "affordable" city to live in.

[Upstateman92]

Originally Posted by ryanms3030

There isn't much unused space for new construction. Zoning laws make it difficult to build new homes and especially difficult to build large multi unit buildings. People who own property are generally against anything that will create thousands of new homes or apartments because it will negatively effect property values. When developers can build new construction they are building luxury apartment buildings because it's profitable. Just like NYC and SF, LA is never going to be an "affordable" city to live in.

Is it affordable in the valley away from the coast more ?

I can work at any of the Los Angeles county airports . Not sure if just la itself is outrageous