The Great Read: In L.A., $750 a Month to Live in a Backyard Storage Unit
A landlord crowded tenants into his house and yard without running water or power. One, determined to find an alternative, was up against the city’s housing crisis.
The New York Times
The Great Read

December 9, 2025, 2:01 p.m. Eastern time

On weekdays and Sundays, we recommend one piece of exceptional writing from The Times — a narrative or essay that takes you someplace you might not expect to go.

A man sits on a bed and cradles a dog in his arms. In the background are a dresser and a desk covered with storage bins and various items.

Alex Welsh for The New York Times

In L.A., $750 a Month to Live in a Backyard Storage Unit

A landlord crowded tenants into his house and yard without running water or power. One, determined to find an alternative, was up against the city’s housing crisis.

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