Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa revives apartment program for homeless

While this isn't economically big in itself, it may indicate other similar programs will be revitalized in other high cost areas of California and the west coast.

Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa announced the revival of a program Monday to give homeless people federal vouchers that would pay most of the rent for apartments.

Villaraigosa said the program — which existed until 2004, when it encountered financial problems — could provide housing for more than 2,000 homeless. About 300 of the 2,136 vouchers will be used to help homeless living on skid row move away from that part of town.