In this episode of the Legal Lens, I sat down with Lourdes Castro Ramirez, the President and CEO of the Housing Authority of the City of Los Angeles (HACLA), serving under the leadership of Mayor Karen Bass. As the leader of the second-largest public housing authority in the nation, Lourdes brings a wealth of experience to discuss how we are moving the needle on the housing undersupply.
We dive deep into the current suspension of Section 9 voucher programs, the push for more housing construction, and the wraparound services that turn a housing opportunity into a ladder for economic mobility.
Listen to the full conversation with Lourdes Castro Ramirez below:
Navigating the Episode: Time Stamps
- 03:17 – Lourdes Castro Ramirez’s Background: From Eldest of Nine to Public Servant
- 06:31 – The State of Housing in 2026: The 30% Income Threshold
- 08:45 – Understanding RENA: The 360,000 Unit Gap in Los Angeles
- 10:44 – The Section 8 Voucher Reality: 20-Year Waiting Lists and Funding Halts
- 14:05 – The Three-Way Partnership: Landlords, Tenants, and HACLA
- 19:42 – Wraparound Services: Education, Scholarships, and Watts WorkSource Center
- 23:42 – Legislative Tracking: The $10 Billion Affordable Housing Bond
- 26:49 – Federal Red Flags: Emergency Vouchers and Mixed-Status Family Rules
- 29:36 – Progress Report: Street Homelessness and Veteran Housing Success
Lourdes Castro Ramirez’s Full Circle Journey as a Public Servant
Lourdes Castro Ramirez describes her career as a full-circle journey, having started at the agency years ago before serving in San Antonio and under the Obama administration in D.C. Her perspective is shaped by her experience as an immigrant and the eldest of nine children, where she learned early on that the government must be accessible to those it serves.
“I realized how important it is to have institutions, particularly institutions of government, to be responsive, to be accessible… housing and having a place to call home, even if it’s a small place, but it has to be stable. It is so important for one’s development, for one’s ability to find our purpose.” — Lourdes Castro Ramirez
The 2026 Housing Crisis, 360,000 Units, and the 30% Rule
According to Ramirez, the benchmark for affordable housing is that a family should not pay more than 30% of their income for a roof over their head. Ramirez argues that, in Los Angeles, the reality is starkly different, with many families spending over 50% of their earnings on rent, leaving them one paycheck away from potential eviction. Lourdes explains that the city is currently short of approximately 360,000 rental units, a gap which puts immense pressure on the entire ecosystem.
“Housing really has become an issue across the country. And by that I mean housing security and access to housing that is affordable, where families are not having to pay more than 30% of their income… in the city of LA, we are short about 360,000 units, rental units.” — Lourdes Castro Ramirez
The Section 8 Voucher Program Suspension: A 20-Year Wait for Stability
One of the most sobering moments of our conversation centered on the Section 8 voucher program. HACLA serves over 200,000 individuals, and the demand for assistance vastly outstrips federal funding. As of March 2025, the program has been placed on hold, meaning no new vouchers are being issued from the traditional waiting list. This creates a heartbreaking timeline where families might wait two decades for the assistance they qualify for today.
“Currently our voucher program is on hold. We are not pulling any names from our traditional waiting list… On average, a family that is on the waiting list will wait between 10 to 20 years for their name to come up.” — Lourdes Castro Ramirez
How the Housing Authority of the City of Los Angeles Provides a Springboard to Opportunity
The Housing Authority of the City of Los Angeles is evolving past the traditional model of just providing a unit. Under Lourdes’ leadership, the agency is focusing on a wraparound approach, acting as a bridge to economic stability through education, job training, and health services. By operating its own WorkSource center in Watts and awarding hundreds of thousands in scholarships, HACLA is making sure that residents have the tools to eventually move beyond the need for subsidies.
Related Article: April Verrett on SEIU’s Vision for a “More Just Society,” the Power of Labor Unions, and Making History as the First Black President of SEIU
“We very much operate from a very simple but profound belief, that housing is foundational to opportunity… we also see ourselves as bridge builders… connecting families and individuals participating in our programs to other resources that are going to essentially serve as a ladder to economic stability.” — Lourdes Castro Ramirez
The 2026 Legislative Landscape: What Happens Next?
Navigating the future of housing requires a keen eye on both Sacramento and Washington D.C. Lourdes highlighted several critical pieces of legislation, including a proposed $10 billion affordable housing bond and the sunsetting of the Emergency Housing Voucher Program. Additionally, HACLA is closely monitoring federal rule changes regarding mixed-status families, which could require the agency to verify the citizenship status of every single program participant, adding a massive administrative burden to an already strained system.
Related Article: Carl Douglas: Fighting for Justice and the Rule of Law
“There’s been a lot of traction with the affordable housing bond… this would be a bond that would put forward about $10 billion to build approximately 10,000 units across the state. And so we’re tracking that very closely.” — Lourdes Castro Ramirez
Real Progress in the Fight Against Homelessness in Los Angeles
Mayor Bass’s Executive Directive on day one of her administration including the Inside Safe program. According to Ramirez, this program has catalyzed a measurable drop in street homelessness and a rise in permanent placements. Specifically, the focus on veteran homelessness has yielded results, with nearly 800 veterans housed and connected to VA case management in the last year, proving that a coordinated, “all hands on deck” approach can work.
“For the last two years LA City has seen a drop in homelessness and an increase in the number of individuals that are moving into permanent housing… To date, we have housed almost 800 veterans who were experiencing homelessness.” — Lourdes Castro Ramirez
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I have dedicated my career to helping litigants resolve their legal disputes through the mediation and dispute resolution process, and by helping dissect the legal issues that shape our public discourse and workplace dynamics. Whether it be as a radio and podcast show host, or as a legal analyst in the news, my mission as the host of the Legal Lens radio show and podcast is to empower you with objective, expert-driven insights born from years of practice at the intersection of law and society.
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