CAUSE surveyed nearly 600 local renters, focusing on working-class and immigrant families on the front lines of our housing crisis. This report combines the lived experiences of local renters with data from the Census, local governments, and online real estate databases.
In the past five years, rents in Ventura and Santa Barbara Counties have increased by 27% while median wages have only grown by 8%. Our region has some of the highest levels of rent burden in the state and nation, with housing costs far outpacing incomes.
Of those we surveyed, 15% had been evicted in the past five years, 43% had received a drastic rent increase over $100 at one time, and 75% had experienced one or more health and safety issues, showing the severe impacts our communities are struggling with.
CAUSE is looking to building grassroots power to raise the voices of renters and working with local policymakers, community partners, and responsible leaders within the real estate industry to move forward solutions in the year ahead.
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