BY EMMILY HOVHANNISYAN
As Glendale prepares to open a notoriously expensive Erewhon and replaces longstanding buildings with luxury complexes, concerns rise among locals about the affordability of the city. Having lived in Glendale for over twenty years myself, I have witnessed residents struggle to keep up with the city’s skyrocketing rent costs.
According to Zillow Housing research, Glendale’s rent has increased by 4.2 percent since 2024. The Urban Displacement Project also labels several neighborhoods in the town as ‘ongoing or advanced gentrification zones.’ As this crisis worsens, housing instability and the risk of displacement increases for vulnerable groups, such as low-income, minority populations. The largest ethnic group in Glendale is the Armenian diaspora.
In the 1970s, an influx of Armenians immigrated to Glendale and contributed to the economic growth and beautification of the city. As an Armenian immigrant living here, I witness our vibrant culture and the celebration of our heritage in Glendale every day. With its lively cultural events, welcoming mom-and-pop shops, and Armenian elders playing backgammon in the parks, Glendale has always felt like a home away from home.
Further, community needs assessment surveys conducted by Glendale’s Dignity Health in 2022 established housing needs as a priority for the Armenian community. These statistics may be surprising given the stereotype that all Armenians are wealthy entrepreneurs. In addition to this model minority myth, a stigma exists within the Armenian community that hinders discussions about financial insecurity. Thus, Armenian Americans are often left out of the conversation on housing instability and displacement.
In 2023, Glendale finalized the Housing Element, an eight-year plan intending to address housing inequity, and some of its policies have already been enacted. For instance, Glendale provides subsidies for those who qualify for the Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher program and has zoning ordinances to reserve 15 percent of units in new complexes for low-income tenants.
Despite these enacted policies, the housing crisis continues to worsen. This calls for further action from Glendale’s residents and legislators to ensure tenant protections and increased housing opportunities for low-income individuals.
Citizens of Glendale must actively advocate for the expansion of existing policies and urge local and state legislators to address barriers to their implementation. Housing unions such as the Glendale Tenant Union provide opportunities for the community to campaign for stricter rent control laws and urge Glendale to develop more creative solutions, such as establishing community land trusts.
Given the large presence of Armenian Americans in Glendale, we have the power in numbers to bring these changes to life. It would be a shame to witness the dispersion of such a tightly knit and concentrated diaspora due to gentrification. After decades of contributing immensely to Glendale’s growth, Armenians have the responsibility, the right, and the power to champion better housing policies for themselves and fellow community members.
Emmily Hovhannisyan is a master’s in social work student at USC and has lived in Glendale for over 20 years. As an Armenian, she is deeply connected to the local cultural community and passionate about accessibility for underserved groups. She is also an advocate for mental health, dedicated to reducing stigma and raising awareness for individuals facing mental health challenges.
