*By Samantha Errico* San Francisco and New York get the ink for being outlandishly expensive, but Los Angeles' housing crisis has become so severe that it threatens the very industry on which the city relies. According to Katie Kilkenny, an associate editor at The Hollywood Reporter, median rental prices in Los Angeles, Calif., have increased by 32 percent since 2000. Some aspiring starlets and starving artists have even resorted to sleeping in their cars. Kilkenny told Cheddar Thursday that she wasn't surprised people are "starting to craft their own means of living affordably." As an industry, Hollywood relies on the rags-to-riches mythos. But in this climate, not all hopefuls can afford to stick it out ー unless they resort to extreme measures. As of January of 2018, over [9,000 vehicles](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/features/meet-entertainment-workers-living-cars-housing-crisis-1169781) were being used as homes. And car-dwellers are using every corner of their vehicles ー some even included a small kitchen or a lounging area. "You can spend as much as a house on these vehicles," Kilkenny said. "In order to save money, people are building it out themselves. "One of the guys that I spoke with, made sure to tell me that he wants to do it for at least the next five years, in order to save up to actually buy a house," she added. For full interview [click here](https://cheddar.com/videos/working-l-a-actors-turning-their-vehicles-into-homes).

Share:
More In Business
Report: Big 3 to Pay Striking Workers
The big three car companies for GM and Stellantis have agreed to pay striking workers as they spend time on the picket line, according to The Wall Street Journal.
Stretching Your Dollar: How OneMain Financial is Teaching Kids About Credit
Learning about money is a skill that should be learned at an early age. OneMain Financial is now offering a financial course called 'Credit Worthy' across several high schools across the country, along with some scholarships. Doug Shulman, CEO of OneMain Financial, joined Cheddar News to discuss the importance of learning and understanding credit. "Over half of high school students graduate without knowing the basics about credit," Schulman said. "It really helps establish a great foundation to being an independent adult, to have a healthy and happy life, and some financial security is part of that."
Potential Strike by Las Vegas Workers
Thousands of hospitality workers across 18 casinos in Las Vegas have announced they are set to strike if a new contract agreement is not reached by Friday, November 10.
Load More