ClearThe United States faces a mounting housing affordability crisis, with eviction filings rising in many cities as pandemic-era protections expire. This article examines the latest debt and eviction statistics from Los Angeles and New York City — two of America's largest rental markets.
Los Angeles: Homelessness and Housing Crisis
Homeless people counted in Los Angeles County (2024)
Los Angeles County's homeless population grew by 0.27% in 2024, reaching 75,312 people. The City of LA alone accounts for 45,252 homeless individuals — a 2.2% increase from the previous year.
Eviction Trends
- Eviction filings in Los Angeles increased significantly after pandemic protections ended
- Over 70,000 eviction notices are served annually in LA County
- The median rent in LA exceeds $2,000/month, consuming over 30% of median household income
- An estimated 600,000 LA renters are at risk of eviction due to rent arrears
Tenant Protections
California has some of the strongest tenant protections in the US, including:
- Just Cause Eviction: Landlords must have valid legal reasons to evict
- Rent Caps: Annual increases limited to 5% plus inflation (max 10%)
- Right to Legal Counsel: LA provides free lawyers for low-income tenants facing eviction
New York City: Eviction Filing Trends
Residential eviction cases filed in NYC (2024)
New York City saw over 112,000 residential eviction cases filed in 2024, though this remains below pre-pandemic levels of around 150,000 annual filings.
Credit Card Debt Crisis
New Yorkers are struggling with mounting consumer debt:
- 12.2% of NYC credit card balances are delinquent (90+ days)
- Average credit card debt per household exceeds $8,000
- Debt collection lawsuits have surged since pandemic protections ended
NYC Tenant Protections
- Right to Counsel: Free legal representation for tenants in eviction cases
- Rent Stabilization: Covers approximately 1 million apartments
- Good Cause Eviction: New protections limiting landlord eviction powers
- Housing Court reforms: Pre-trial conferences and mediation programs
Impact of Legal Representation
Studies show that tenants with legal representation are significantly less likely to be evicted. NYC's Right to Counsel program has prevented thousands of evictions since its introduction.
National Context
The housing crisis extends beyond major cities:
- US household debt reached $17.5 trillion in 2024
- Average mortgage debt per household: $244,000
- Credit card delinquencies at highest level since 2012
- Medical debt affects over 100 million Americans
Comparing US and UK Systems
While the US and UK have different legal systems, both face similar challenges:
- Rising enforcement action as cost-of-living pressures mount
- Debates over tenant protections versus landlord rights
- Court backlogs delaying resolution of housing disputes
- Growing calls for debt relief and housing reform
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- Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority (LAHSA) 2024 Count
- NYC Housing Court data
- Federal Reserve Bank of New York
- California Department of Consumer Affairs
- NYC Office of Civil Justice