Los Angeles, California, housing poll finds deep doubt about affordability fixes

LA voters doubt government on housing

A poll released April 23, 2026, found that Los Angeles voters overwhelmingly see housing costs and homelessness as serious problems but express deep doubt that government can improve affordability.

The survey, commissioned by the Los Angeles Business Council Institute, polled 751 registered city voters in mid-April. FM3 Research conducted the poll with a margin of error of plus or minus 3.7 percentage points.

Only 23% of voters said they had some or a great deal of confidence in the Los Angeles city government to improve affordability. The findings came one day before the 24th annual LABC Housing, Transportation, and Jobs Summit on April 24.

Homelessness tops list of voter concerns

Homelessness ranked as the top concern among Los Angeles voters, with 95% calling it a very serious or serious problem. Housing affordability followed closely, with 87% rating it at the same level of severity. The poll asked voters about a list of a dozen issues facing the city.

The findings showed deep voter skepticism about the government’s ability to deliver meaningful progress on housing affordability. Confidence levels were also low at other levels of government: 25% of voters expressed confidence in Los Angeles County, and 30% in Sacramento. The results showed that doubt extended beyond City Hall.

Renters feel the squeeze most sharply

About 7 in 10 Angelenos said it is difficult to afford housing, including more than half of homeowners and 86% of renters. The financial strain is pushing many to consider leaving the city altogether.

Three-quarters of renters said they had considered leaving Los Angeles because of housing costs, compared with 63% of voters overall.

Renters also expressed little faith that building more homes would ease their financial burden. Fewer than 3 in 10 renters believed more affordable housing production would reduce their rent, even though they still broadly supported building more units.

Voters want more housing built, with conditions

Despite skepticism, 48% of voters said the city should substantially increase the number of new housing units to address the lack of accessible and affordable housing. In comparison, 34% said the city should not. Support grew when specific policies were described.

About 71% favored expanding a Los Angeles law that fast-tracks low-income housing to include projects for middle-income residents near public transit, while 23% opposed the idea. Voters also broadly supported speeding up the approval process for apartment buildings that include below-market units and allowing denser housing along major transportation corridors.

Rent caps draw strong voter support

Nearly 70% of Los Angeles voters supported caps on rent increases, making the idea one of the survey’s strongest policy findings. The backing crossed demographic and political lines, according to the LABC Institute.

Voters supported a range of policy solutions to increase housing supply, reduce costs, and address homelessness at both the local and state levels.

Support was also strong for building rental housing for veterans, seniors, public service workers, and middle-class families with children, according to the survey results released April 23. The results show voters backed both cost controls and new housing construction.

Homelessness strategy divides voters

Voters were divided on how Los Angeles should address homelessness. 44% said City Hall should prioritize temporary shelters to serve more homeless people in the short term, while 25% preferred permanent housing with support services.

That 19-point gap showed stronger support for faster short-term shelter options in this poll. Los Angeles homelessness has still fallen for two straight annual counts. LAHSA reported that homelessness in the city declined by 3.4% in 2025, while unsheltered homelessness declined by 7.9%. Mayor Karen Bass has linked the decline to emergency actions and programs such as Inside Safe.

State government faces its own skepticism

Distrust of government on housing was not limited to the city level. Only 30% of Los Angeles voters expressed confidence in Sacramento’s ability to make meaningful progress on housing affordability. At the same time, voters favored, by a 2-to-1 margin, a bigger state government role in local housing decisions.

At the state level, 79% supported making underused state land available for housing, 79% supported using new construction technologies to lower costs, and 75% suported expanding first-time homebuyer programs. The results showed voters wanted state action even while doubting government performance.

Housing costs in California far outpace incomes

The poll’s findings align with statewide data showing a deep affordability gap across California. About 46% of California households would likely qualify for a bottom-tier home mortgage based on their income in 2026, down from about 57% in 2019.

For mid-tier homes, only about 23% would likely qualify in 2026, down from about 31% in 2019. Mid-tier homes in California cost about $775,000, more than twice the typical mid-tier home price in the rest of the United States. The California Legislative Analyst’s Office said incomes have not kept pace with housing costs.

Little-known fact: Angeles expanded adaptive reuse citywide, so buildings at least 15 years old can qualify if they are in certain residential, commercial, parking, or public facilities zones.

LA rents remain high by national standards

Los Angeles renters still faced high costs in 2026, though rent estimates varied by source and property type. Zillow listed the average Los Angeles rent for all bedrooms and property types at $2,655, about 33% higher than the national average.

Apartments.com listed the average Los Angeles apartment rent at about $2,184 in April 2026, with three-bedroom rentals at $4,282 or more. Statewide ownership costs were higher than rent, with the California Legislative Analyst’s Office estimating a two-bedroom mortgage payment at about $4,440 in March 2026, about 66% more than rent.

Approved housing projects sit unbuilt

The LABC poll found that voters were not seeing clear results from policies already on the books. The institute said many approved market-rate and affordable housing projects in Los Angeles had not broken ground, while new housing construction lagged the city’s annual housing goals.

It also said rents continued to rise and homelessness remained high despite many city-led efforts. LABC President Mary Leslie said housing concerns had become more acute for Angelenos despite billions of dollars in investment and new policies. Those findings help explain why only 23% of voters expressed confidence in the city government on affordability.

Housing becomes a June election issue

The poll was released ahead of the June 2, 2026, primary election for Los Angeles mayor and California governor. The Los Angeles City Clerk lists June 2 as the city’s 2026 primary nominating election date.

Incumbent Mayor Karen Bass is seeking reelection in a crowded mayoral field, with housing, homelessness, public safety, and the cost of living appearing across campaign coverage.

A March 2026 Emerson College Polling and Inside California Politics survey found that about 51% of Los Angeles voters were undecided in the mayoral race, while Bass led with about 20% support.

Governor’s race also turns on costs

California’s governor’s race is also being shaped by affordability. An Emerson College Polling and Inside California Politics survey released April 16, 2026, found the economy was the top issue for California likely primary voters at 41%, followed by housing affordability at 20%.

The LABC Housing, Transportation, and Jobs Summit on April 24 was scheduled to include a gubernatorial candidate panel featuring Steve Hilton, Matt Mahan, Tom Steyer, and Antonio Villaraigosa.

The same LABC poll found Los Angeles voters favored several state housing ideas, including state land for housing and first-time homebuyer programs.

San Diego is building apartments faster than Los Angeles as housing development shifts. Find out more about how San Diego outpaces Los Angeles in apartment construction, and how this trend is shaping the market.

Voters want faster housing action

The LABC poll closes with a clear pattern: Los Angeles voters see housing affordability and homelessness as serious problems, but many doubt the government can deliver results.

John Fairbank of FM3 Research said it was rare to see Angelenos this aligned on the urgency of the housing crisis and the need to expand supply across income levels.

The survey also found that only 1 in 6 voters believed Los Angeles was headed in the right direction. With the June 2 primary approaching, housing affordability is set to remain a major test for candidates seeking city and state office.

Living in California in 2026 comes with high housing, tax, and insurance costs. Find out more about 13 painful truths about living in California in 2026 and the challenges residents face.

Do you think Los Angeles leaders can still make housing more affordable? Share your thoughts below.

This slideshow was made with AI assistance and human editing.

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