Large-Family Housing Lack Cited in County

Los Angeles County is becoming the first “truly multi-ethnic, multiracial” metropolitan area in the nation, but housing discrimination and the lack of affordable rental housing for large families is contributing to racial segregation and is “exacerbating intergroup stress and conflict” in the area.

These are among the findings in a report presented to the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors by the county’s Commission on Human Relations.

The report recommends that the county modify the building and safety code to stimulate construction and rehabilitation of affordable housing that will accommodate the homeless and the larger families of the Latino and Asian-Pacific groups, the fastest growing ethnic elements in the county.

Further, the county should study possibilities for increasing the use of publicly owned land to generate low- and moderate-income housing, the commission’s report recommended.

The commission also urged county and state fair housing efforts be strengthened to “carefully monitor” discrimination based on race, ethnicity, religion, age, disability and other “arbitrary factors.”