Meet W4Ev Leader Margaret H.

This post kicks off a new blog series to spotlight the people behind Westside for Everyone, sharing their personal stories about what got them into housing advocacy and why it matters to them.

We hope you’ll enjoy getting to know the folks driving the Westside’s housing movement.

Meet Margaret H.

Margaret is a chapter lead of Westside for Everyone and leader of Building a Better Westchester-Playa

What's your housing story?

I have been very fortunate and have not had to experience housing insecurity myself. I began my journey into housing advocacy by my desire to help address our homelessness crisis. The understanding that the homeless crisis is actually a housing crisis led me to broaden my focus, which led to an appreciation that homelessness is the tip of the iceberg as far as the impacts of our housing shortage – it doesn’t seem that hyperbolic to say that housing is an existential crisis in LA and beyond. Restoring sufficient affordable housing throughout this region is a challenge that engages me intellectually and emotionally.

What do you hope for the westside's future?

My hope – for the westside and everywhere – is for a radical redefinition of the legitimate stakeholders in decisions on land use and zoning and development. Our current processes give almost exclusive weight to the people who are already here, who are naturally prone to protecting and expanding what they have.

Until our decision-making processes also give voice to people who would like to live in our communities today, and to those who will make their homes here decades and generations from now, we are unlikely to achieve the more concrete hopes we all have for housing, transportation, economic vitality and social equity on the westside.

Why are you a leader of W4Ev?

Housing advocacy is such a broad and complex undertaking, it is really valuable to connect with an organization that helps you learn, structures ways for you to contribute, and welcomes you into a community. Westside for Everyone and Abundant Housing LA filled those roles for me, enabling me to be an effective part of the movement for more housing. I volunteer within W4E and AHLA to help sustain and expand those benefits to others.

What is your favorite part of the westside? 

The westside has wonderful community theatre! I’m very involved in Kentwood Players, based in Westchester; there’s also Morgan Wixson in Santa Monica, Theatre Palisades (appearing in multiple spots while their theater is rebuilt after the fire), The Aerospace Players in Torrance, and many more. These are all-volunteer organizations that put on wonderful entertainment at very reasonable prices. Check them out!

What is one thing people can do to make housing more affordable/sustainable? 

Get involved with your Neighborhood Council. NCs can have a lot of influence over what does and doesn't get built, and they have the councilmember's ear on issues of city and state housing policy. Attend Board meetings and particularly planning and land use committee meetings to know what is happening in your very local community. Your presence will let those supporting the status quo know there are people who have a different view of what makes the westside great.