About the USC Area Housing Dashboard – Neighborhood Data for Social Change

USC Area Housing Dashboard

The USC Area Dashboard seeks to highlight housing data trends of the USC community including: resident characteristics, the built environment, and housing affordability and stability. This platform is a product of community interest and advocacy, and its purpose is to help community members, community-based organizations, and local policymakers track measurable change, improve local policies and programs, and ultimately advocate for a better quality of life within this community.

A project of:

A COMMUNITY HISTORY: THE UNIDAD COALITION

The United Neighbors in Defense Against Displacement (UNIDAD) coalition is the product of a community collaboration formed to prevent the displacement of residents in South Central Los Angeles and to improve the health and economic well-being of low-income communities of color through responsible development. The advocacy efforts of UNIDAD are largely responsible for the fruition of the USC Area Dashboard, through a community benefits agreement negotiated with USC during the University’s “Master Plan” development process. See below for a brief history of UNIDAD, as well as a collection of its partner organizations.

Advocacy Timeline

1998

COALITION FOR A RESPONSIBLE USC

Strategic Actions for a Just Economy (SAJE) establishes the Coalition for a Responsible USC to organize against labor issues with USC campus workers.

1999

FIGUEROA CORRIDOR COALITION FOR ECONOMIC JUSTICE

The Coalition for a Responsible USC becomes UNIDAD (formerly the Figueroa Corridor Coalition for Economic Justice (FCCEJ)) to focus on eviction, affordable housing, and employment in the LA Figueroa Corridor

2001

COMMUNITY BENEFITS AGREEMENT

UNIDAD, in their advocacy efforts regarding AEG’s Staples Center development, come to a community benefits agreement for the project; AEG grants funding for housing, parks, residential parking, as well as a source hiring and job training program for South LA community members for Staples Center jobs

2006

UNIVERSITY PARK MASTER PLAN

In 2006, USC begins its Master Plan development process for University Park and the surrounding neighborhoods, through the year 2030. In 2008 USC Master Plan is approved by the Board of Trustees.

2010

CAMPAIGN AGAINST DISPLACEMENT

UNIDAD Coalition begins a years-long campaign against displacement in USC adjacent neighborhoods, and continues advocacy, demanding community benefits from USC’s Master Plan development.

2012

USC MASTER PLAN APPROVED WITH BENEFITS

Following UNIDAD organizing, L.A. Council unanimously approves the USC Master Plan with additional community benefits, which includes funding for affordable housing, job training and placement, small business aid, and parks/green space in South LA.

2018

USC VILLAGE

The USC Village initiates its Grand Opening ceremony, marking an end to the development process in the village.

2021

USC AREA HOUSING DASHBOARD

USC's Neighborhood Data for Social Change initiative & the Los Angeles Housing Department launch the USC Area Housing Dashboard to track housing and neighborhood trends in the USC area.