Experts are warning that California could see a 20% increase in homelessness, with the surge even more severe in other parts of the country. If the downturn drags on, we could see more evictions and foreclosures than the Great Recession triggered. https://www.latimes.com/opinion/story/2020-05-22/coronavirus-housing-homelessness-proposals
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1. Help tenants pay their rent

The easiest and fastest — and yes, most expensive — way to prevent a housing crisis is for the federal government (and federal taxpayers) to put up the money to keep renters in their homes and landlords whole. https://www.latimes.com/opinion/story/2020-05-22/coronavirus-housing-homelessness-proposals
2. Help landlords cover their losses

Even if the federal government enacts a rental assistance program, it likely won’t cover all distressed renters. But a group of CA lawmakers have a promising new idea to encourage landlords and tenants to make a deal. https://www.latimes.com/opinion/story/2020-05-22/coronavirus-housing-homelessness-proposals
3. Help small landlords

Most landlords are small-business owners, and most rental properties, particularly in California, are buildings with 10 or fewer apartments. Some cities are looking to create relief funds to help these landlords stay in business. https://www.latimes.com/opinion/story/2020-05-22/coronavirus-housing-homelessness-proposals
4. Buy hotels and motels

California cities and counties are already renting hotel rooms during the pandemic for homeless people who are 65+ or have an underlying medical condition. Now Gov. Gavin Newsom wants to turn them into permanent homeless housing. https://www.latimes.com/opinion/story/2020-05-22/coronavirus-housing-homelessness-proposals
5. Put up tiny houses or trailers

This is another old idea that started to gain steam earlier this year. But the pandemic showed it’s possible to find and quickly install temporary housing to get people off the streets. https://www.latimes.com/opinion/story/2020-05-22/coronavirus-housing-homelessness-proposals
6. Encourage short-term rentals to convert to long-term tenancy

Cities should consider ways encourage property owners to rent their units to long-term tenants, which could help owners pay their bills and get much-needed rental housing on the market. https://www.latimes.com/opinion/story/2020-05-22/coronavirus-housing-homelessness-proposals
7. Make it easy to repurpose commercial properties into housing

Will COVID-19 be the death knell for offices? Cities should start planning now for ways to make it easier for building owners to convert office complexes into new homes. https://www.latimes.com/opinion/story/2020-05-22/coronavirus-housing-homelessness-proposals
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