The high cost of housing poses a threat to the state’s economic future and widens inequality. Not surprisingly, Californians identify housing affordability and homelessness as among the most important issues facing the state. PPIC examines current and emerging housing needs and highlights the role of public policies in addressing the state’s housing crisis.
Recent Content
View All →![photo - volunteers serve food to those in need](https://www.ppic.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/volunteers-serve-food-to-customers-in-need-320x213.jpg)
How Has Poverty in California Changed over Time?
Caroline Danielson
![photo - California State Capitol](https://www.ppic.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/california-state-capitol-survey-cag-320x213.jpg)
Video: Californians and Their Government
Mary Severance
![photo - Elderly Man in Hotel Room Looking out Window](https://www.ppic.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/elderly-man-in-hotel-room-looking-out-window-320x213.jpg)
Taking Stock of California’s Capacity to House Its Homeless Population
Cesar Alesi Perez
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The Holy Grail of a Zero-Carbon Home
Sarah Bardeen
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An Update on Homelessness in California
Marisol Cuellar Mejia, Cesar Alesi Perez
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Learning Recovery for Homeless Students Lags behind Other High-Need Groups
Brett Guinan, Julien Lafortune
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Testimony: Most Californians Are “Pretty Happy” but a Growing Share Are “Not Too Happy”
Mark Baldassare
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Student Homelessness Reaches 10% or Higher in Some Counties
Brett Guinan, Julien Lafortune
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California’s Renters
Eric McGhee, Marisol Cuellar Mejia, Hans Johnson
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Student Homelessness Rises to Pre-Pandemic Levels
Brett Guinan, Julien Lafortune
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Video: California’s Economic Future
Mary Severance
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Where Are Californians Going When They Leave the Golden State?
Eric McGhee, Hans Johnson
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Who’s Leaving California—and Who’s Moving In?
Hans Johnson, Eric McGhee
![photo - California State Capitol Building at Twilight](https://www.ppic.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/california-state-capitol-building-at-twilight-320x213.jpg)
Video: A Conversation with Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas
Stephanie Barton
![](https://www.ppic.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/hands-with-cellphone-and-economy-charts-1-320x213.jpg)
Making Sense of California’s Economy
Sarah Bohn, Marisol Cuellar Mejia, Julien Lafortune, Vicki Hsieh
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2023 Year in Review
Tani Cantil-Sakauye
![photo - California State Capitol](https://www.ppic.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/california-state-capitol-survey-cag-320x213.jpg)
Video: Californians and Their Government
Stephanie Barton
![photo - Aerial View of Suburban Residential Homes in Bakersfield, California](https://www.ppic.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/aerial-view-of-suburban-residential-homes-in-bakersfield-california-320x213.jpg)
Many California Renters Remain Financially Stressed
Hans Johnson, Eric McGhee
![photo - California State Capitol](https://www.ppic.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/california-state-capitol-survey-cag-320x213.jpg)
PPIC Statewide Survey: Californians and Their Government
Mark Baldassare, Dean Bonner, Lauren Mora, Deja Thomas
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Video: Californians and Their Economic Well-Being
Mary Severance
![photo - Mother and Daughters at Check Out Counter](https://www.ppic.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/mother-and-daughters-at-check-out-counter-320x213.jpg)
PPIC Statewide Survey: Californians and Their Economic Well-Being
Mark Baldassare, Dean Bonner, Lauren Mora, Deja Thomas
![photo - Late Summer Sunrise over Los Angeles](https://www.ppic.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/late-summer-sunrise-over-los-angeles-320x213.jpg)
How to Keep Buildings Cool in California’s Warming Climate
Sarah Bardeen
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Multi-unit Housing Is Becoming More Common, but Has Low Homeownership Rates
Hans Johnson, Eric McGhee
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Large Cities Lose Population even as They Add New Housing
Hans Johnson
![photo - Aerial view of southern California houses](https://www.ppic.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/aerial-view-of-southern-california-houses-320x213.jpg)
Desire for Action on Housing Contrasts with How Californians Want to Live
Dean Bonner
![photo - California State Capitol](https://www.ppic.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/california-state-capitol-survey-cag-320x213.jpg)
PPIC Statewide Survey: Californians and Their Government
Mark Baldassare, Dean Bonner, Rachel Lawler, Deja Thomas
![photo - California State Courthouse Building in Sacramento](https://www.ppic.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/california-state-courthouse-building-in-sacramento-320x213.jpg)
Video: A Conversation with California Attorney General Rob Bonta
Stephanie Barton
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Californians See a Rise in Homelessness in Their Communities
Deja Thomas
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Storms, Floods, and COVID-19 Have Worsened Long-standing Farmworker Housing Challenges
Paulette Cha
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Housing Costs Have Californians Considering an Interstate Move
Dean Bonner
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Despite State Action, Grim Views on Housing Persist
Dean Bonner
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Video: Women in California’s Legislature
Mary Severance
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Is College Worth It?
Marisol Cuellar Mejia, Cesar Alesi Perez, Vicki Hsieh, Hans Johnson
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Californians’ Views on Governor Newsom and the State of the State
Mark Baldassare
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Eviction Rates Plunged During the Early Part of the Pandemic
Joseph Herrera, Jennifer Paluch
![photo - African American family enjoying the outdoors](https://www.ppic.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/african-american-family-enjoying-outdoors-320x213.jpg)
California’s African American Community
Eric McGhee
![photo - Young woman with her child in a shelter](https://www.ppic.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/young-woman-with-child-in-shelter-320x213.jpg)
Homeless Populations Are Rising around California
Jennifer Paluch, Joseph Herrera
![photo - California State Capitol](https://www.ppic.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/california-state-capitol-survey-cag-320x213.jpg)
Video: Californians and Their Government
Vicki Hsieh
![photo - Flags Fly at California's Capital Building](https://www.ppic.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/flags-fly-at-californias-capital-building-320x213.jpg)
Video: A Conversation with California’s Legislative Leadership
Mary Severance
![photo - California State Capitol](https://www.ppic.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/california-state-capitol-survey-cag-320x213.jpg)
PPIC Statewide Survey: Californians and Their Government
Mark Baldassare, Dean Bonner, Rachel Lawler, Deja Thomas
![Person Filling Up the Car in a Gas Station](https://www.ppic.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/person-filling-up-the-car-in-a-gas-station-320x213.jpg)
Video: Californians and Their Economic Well-Being
Vicki Hsieh
![photo - Suburban Homes](https://www.ppic.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/suburban-homes-320x213.jpg)
Shrinking Household Size Strains California’s Housing Market
Marisol Cuellar Mejia, Hans Johnson, Julien Lafortune
![Person Filling Up the Car in a Gas Station](https://www.ppic.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/person-filling-up-the-car-in-a-gas-station-320x213.jpg)
PPIC Statewide Survey: Californians and Their Economic Well-Being
Mark Baldassare, Dean Bonner, Rachel Lawler, Deja Thomas
![photo - Woman Paying Bills at Kitchen Table](https://www.ppic.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/woman-paying-bills-at-kitchen-table-320x213.jpg)
Inflation Squeezes Californians’ Budgets, despite Wage Growth
Sarah Bohn, Marisol Cuellar Mejia, Julien Lafortune
![photo - Back of Truck Packed with Household Items](https://www.ppic.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/back-of-truck-packed-with-household-items-320x213.jpg)
The Politics of Leaving California
Eric McGhee, Hans Johnson
![photo - Line of People Waiting To Vote for an Election](https://www.ppic.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/line-of-people-waitng-to-vote-for-election-getty1203196311-320x213.jpg)
Video: 2022 Election Preview
Vicki Hsieh
![photo - Homeless Encampment on a Street in California](https://www.ppic.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/homeless-encampment-on-a-street-california-320x213.jpg)
Video: Homelessness in California’s Cities
Mary Severance
![photo - External Emergency Room and Ambulance](https://www.ppic.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/external-emergency-room-with-blurred-ambulance-320x213.jpg)
Video: How Hospital Discharge Data Can Inform State Homelessness Policy
Mary Severance
![photo - Homeless Encampment in Downtown Los Angeles](https://www.ppic.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/homeless-encampment-in-downtown-los-angeles-320x213.jpg)
Most Californians Continue to Identify Homelessness as a Big Problem
Deja Thomas
![photo - California State Capitol](https://www.ppic.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/california-state-capitol-survey-cag-320x213.jpg)
Video: Californians and Their Government
Vicki Hsieh
![photo - External Emergency Room and Ambulance](https://www.ppic.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/external-emergency-room-with-blurred-ambulance-320x213.jpg)
How Hospital Discharge Data Can Inform State Homelessness Policy
Shannon McConville, Hemal Kanzaria, Renee Hsia, Maria Raven ...
![photo - External Emergency Room and Ambulance](https://www.ppic.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/external-emergency-room-with-blurred-ambulance-320x213.jpg)
Policy Brief: How Hospital Discharge Data Can Inform State Homelessness Policy
Shannon McConville, Hemal Kanzaria, Renee Hsia, Maria Raven ...
![photo - California State Capitol](https://www.ppic.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/california-state-capitol-survey-cag-320x213.jpg)
PPIC Statewide Survey: Californians and Their Government
Mark Baldassare, Dean Bonner, Rachel Lawler, Deja Thomas
![photo - Three Work Colleagues Talking in Open Office](https://www.ppic.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/three-work-colleagues-talking-in-open-office-320x213.jpg)
California’s Evolving Economy
Sarah Bohn
![photo - Woman Packing and Stacking Moving Boxes](https://www.ppic.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/woman-packing-and-stacking-moving-boxes-320x213.jpg)
California’s Population Shifts May Lead to New Income Divides
Eric McGhee
![photo - Houses on Residential Street](https://www.ppic.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/houses-on-residential-street-320x213.jpg)
California’s High Housing Costs Have Created a Million “House Rich” Millionaires
Hans Johnson
![photo - Old Neighborhood in Sacramento, California](https://www.ppic.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/old-neighborhood-in-sacramento-320x213.jpg)
Homeownership Trends in California
Hans Johnson, Marisol Cuellar Mejia, Julien Lafortune, Cesar Alesi Perez
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Racial/Ethnic Differences in Who’s Leaving California
Eric McGhee
![photo - Elderly Man in Hotel Room Looking out Window](https://www.ppic.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/elderly-man-in-hotel-room-looking-out-window-320x213.jpg)
Early Evidence of Shifts in Local Homeless Populations during the Pandemic
Marisol Cuellar Mejia, Joseph Herrera, Hans Johnson
![photo - Aerial View of Subdivision in Irvine, California](https://www.ppic.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/aerial-view-of-subdivision-in-irvine-california-320x213.jpg)
California’s Housing Divide
Marisol Cuellar Mejia, Hans Johnson, Julien Lafortune
![photo - Residential Building in San Francisco](https://www.ppic.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/residential-building-in-san-francisco-320x213.jpg)
Many California Renters Fear Eviction Despite Increased Aid
Hans Johnson, Marisol Cuellar Mejia, Julien Lafortune
![photo - Homeless Encampment on a Street in California](https://www.ppic.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/homeless-encampment-on-a-street-california-320x213.jpg)
Views on Homelessness Have Shifted in Some California Regions
Deja Thomas
![photo - Woman and Piles of Bills](https://www.ppic.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/woman-and-piles-of-bills-320x213.jpg)
High Prices Causing Financial Hardships for Many Californians
Rachel Lawler
![photo - Bunks in a Homeless Shelter](https://www.ppic.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/homeless-shelter-bunks-320x213.jpg)
A Snapshot of Homeless Californians in Shelters
Marisol Cuellar Mejia, Hans Johnson, Joseph Herrera
![photo - Home Construction on Hillside](https://www.ppic.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/home-construction-on-hillside-320x213.jpg)
New Housing Fails to Make Up for Decades of Undersupply
Eric McGhee, Jennifer Paluch, Vicki Hsieh
![photo - Wildfire Damaged Car](https://www.ppic.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/wildfire-damaged-car-320x213.jpg)
After Wildfire, How Do We Rebuild for a “Resilient Recovery”?
Sarah Bardeen
![photo - Houses in Orange County, California](https://www.ppic.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/houses-in-orange-county-california-1-320x213.jpg)
California’s High Housing Costs Increase Poverty
Patricia Malagon, Caroline Danielson
![photo - University of California Los Angeles Campus, Aerial View](https://www.ppic.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/ucla-campus-aerial-view-320x213.jpeg)
Enrollment Increases Will Require More Housing for UC and CSU Students
Hans Johnson
![photo - Elderly Man in Hotel Room Looking out Window](https://www.ppic.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/elderly-man-in-hotel-room-looking-out-window-320x213.jpg)
What Lessons Can Be Learned from Project Roomkey?
Shannon McConville
![photo - San Francisco houses](https://www.ppic.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/I_114HJ2I-320x213.jpg)
California’s Future: Housing
Hans Johnson, Marisol Cuellar Mejia, Julien Lafortune