It is essential for individuals and communities to have clean air, water, and soil and to feel safe and secure in their daily lives. Los Angeles County, like much of the United States, has a long history of discriminatory public policy that has shaped housing and land use patterns in which low-income communities and communities of color are disproportionately burdened by pollution exposure, affordability challenges, and diminished access to economic opportunity, parks, and open space. Climate change adds to the burdens of these historical inequities.
The COVID-19 pandemic laid bare the effects of many of these deeply rooted inequalities, with zip codes being highly correlated to health outcomes. Preexisting health conditions, such as
asthma from exposure to freeway air pollutants, put individuals at higher risk, as did other socioeconomic factors. The discriminatory practice of redlining that began in the 1930s is still being felt today, and reversing these effects to build a more resilient and healthy community will require comprehensive and sustained attention.
With collaboration and support from local jurisdictions and unincorporated areas, OurCounty will promote thriving and healthy places for current and future generations. We will work to eliminate inequities and alleviate development-driven displacement, supporting stronger, more resilient and inclusive communities.
Minimize the exposure of vulnerable populations to pollution and reduce health disparities
Read moreDevelop community capacity to prepare for, mitigate, respond to, and bounce forward from climate and hazard emergencies
Read more| Baseline | Progress | 2030 Target | 2035 Target | 2045 Target | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Countywide | Disadvantaged communities in LA County had an average Source: CalEnviroScreen 4.0 |
Toxicity-weighted concentrations of emissions in disadvantaged communities have reduced by 27% (data from 2017–2019) |
Reduce toxicity-weighted concentrations of emissions in disadvantaged communities by 35% |
Reduce toxicity-weighted concentrations of emissions in disadvantaged communities by 40% |
Reduce toxicity-weighted concentrations of emissions in disadvantaged communities by 80% |
| Countywide | Los Angeles County had 111,220 affordable homes in 2018 Source: Annual Affordable Housing Outcomes Report |
There were 146,571 |
200,000 affordable housing units |
300,000 affordable housing units |
585,000 affordable housing units |
| Countywide | 58% of renters experienced cost burden in 2016, with 25% of renters experiencing moderate cost burden and 33% experiencing severe cost burden Source: Annual Affordable Housing Outcomes Report |
54% of renters experienced cost burden in 2022, with 24% of renters experiencing moderate cost burden and 30% experiencing severe cost burden |
Decrease percentage of cost-burdened renter households to 45% |
Decrease percentage of cost-burdened renter households to 35% |
Decrease percentage of cost-burdened renter households to 15% |
| Countywide | Average energy burden in LA County is 10% for extremely low-income households, 4% for very low income households, and 3% for lower income households Source: U.S. DOE LEAD Tool |
New target, no progress update |
Reduce average energy burden for low-income |
Reduce average energy burden for low-income |
|
| Countywide | 97% of water agencies had an affordable cost of water in 2020 to meet health and safety needs Source: LA County Water Plan Dashboard |
94% of water agencies had an affordable cost of water in 2022 to meet health and safety needs |
100% of water agencies have affordable cost of water to meet health and safety needs |
||
| Countywide | 45% of LA County residents reported being very or somewhat prepared for a large-scale disaster or emergency in 2023 Source: LA County Health Survey, Department of |
New target, no progress update |
Increase self-reported household disaster preparedness to 50% |
Increase self-reported household disaster preparedness to 55% |
Increase self-reported household disaster preparedness to 60% |
| Unincorporated | 580 very low-income, 108 low-income, and 0 moderate-income units had been permitted in unincorporated Los Angeles County as of 2018, compared with the fifth cycle Regional Housing Needs Allocation (RHNA) allocation of 7,841 units, 4,644 units, and 5,052 units, respectively Source: Regional Housing Needs Assessment (RHNA) |
7% of RHNA housing production targets were The sixth cycle (2021–2029) allocation is 25,648 units, 13,691 units, and 14,180 units, respectively |
Meet 25% of RHNA housing production targets for very low–, low-, and moderate-income housing |
Meet 50% of RHNA housing production targets for very low–, low-, and moderate-income housing |
Meet 100% of RHNA housing production targets for very low–, low-, and moderate-income housing |
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