According to the most recent estimates from the National Alliance to End Homelessness, only 35 affordable rental homes are available in the United States for every 100 “extremely low-income” renters.
But when we look around, most of us could easily identify buildings that could provide real shelter. When cities and organizations develop old malls or office buildings into housing, it’s called “adaptive reuse,” and it could be one of the best solutions to the housing shortage.
One example is an old rice cracker factory in California.
In Los Angeles, situated between Little Tokyo and Skid Row, is a new affordable, supportive housing complex that has a crunchy history.
For nearly a century, the lot housed a factory where Japanese rice crackers called Umeya were made until the production company shut down operations in 2017.
The soy sauce-glazed crackers, shaped like small cherry blossoms, were a staple in many Asian American homes, but now, the place where they were made has become a home itself to nearly 200 residents.
“Our family business has been a part of the Little Tokyo neighborhood since 1918. Given Umeya’s history and the community who supported us for nearly 100 years, the two are forever inseparable,” Rex Hamano, a family representative, said in a statement.
“We are truly excited to see the fruits of Little Tokyo Service Center advancing their proud mission towards community revitalization and cultural preservation for generations to come.”
Where the factory once stood is now The Umeya, a 175-unit affordable and permanent supportive housing complex that, when fully occupied, houses 250 to 300 people.
The residents are a mix of working adults, retirees, and families who pay no more than 30% of their income on rent.
“It’s definitely a busy time for us,” said Takao Suzuki, co-executive director of the Little Tokyo Service Center, a nonprofit that provides social services in the area and originally bought the factory.
“Housing is harder and harder to build, but projects like Umeya show what’s possible when community and legacy come together.”
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A version of this article was originally published in The 2026 Home Edition of the Goodnewspaper.
Header images courtesy of Little Tokyo Service Center and Japanese American National Museum
