As the raging wildfires in Los Angeles have displaced tens of thousands of people, they're also exacerbating fears of not being able to afford a place to live in a part of the country that has endured a decades-long housing shortage.
As someone who lives in the neighboring town of Altadena, I've witnessed firsthand how L.A. residents scramble to file for federal assistance, gather essentials for everyday living and try to feel a semblance of normalcy and make sense of the devastation amid the chaos. On top of their stressors, price gouging is making the dire housing situation in Los Angeles County even worse.
