![Ethan Varian, Bay Area News Group housing reporter](https://www.mercurynews.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/Ethan_Varian_Headshot_01.jpeg?w=73)
Ethan Varian
Ethan Varian is a Bay Area News Group reporter covering housing for The Mercury News and East Bay Times. He was previously a housing and homelessness reporter at the Santa Rosa Press Democrat in Sonoma County. His stories about housing, business and culture have been published in the New York Times, Los Angeles Times and the Guardian US, among others. He graduated from Colorado College with a BA degree in history and the University of Southern California with an MS degree in journalism.
Location: San Francisco Bay Area
Awards: Society of Professional Journalists Northern California Chapter James Madison Award in 2022 for coverage of weak oversight of an affordable housing agreements, National Headliners Awards third place for coverage in 2021 of a high profile developer implicated in low-income housing fraud
Expertise: Housing issues and policy, homelessness
All Stories
![The state said San Diego voided the grant by not approving a the site for the new tiny homes. The state said San Diego voided the grant by not approving a the site for the new tiny homes.](https://www.mercurynews.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/sjm-wsom-State-of-the-State_198150102.jpg?w=132)
Why is San Jose getting a $7 million tiny home grant meant for San Diego?
![The case was an early test of cities' authority to police homelessness following landmark Supreme Court ruling. The case was an early test of cities' authority to police homelessness following landmark Supreme Court ruling.](https://www.mercurynews.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/SJM-L-OAKCAMP-0713-21.jpg?w=132)
Judge allows Oakland to clear homeless encampment in early test of Supreme Court ruling
![The proposal, coming at critical juncture in Biden's reelection campaign, would require approval by Congress. The proposal, coming at critical juncture in Biden's reelection campaign, would require approval by Congress.](https://www.mercurynews.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/AP24196014109113_85e60a.jpg?w=132)
What would Biden’s proposed 5% nationwide rent cap mean for the Bay Area?
![The rate hike would affect more than 350,000 policyholders. The rate hike would affect more than 350,000 policyholders.](https://www.mercurynews.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/SJM-L-STATEFARM-0702-1.jpg?w=131)
SUBSCRIBER ONLY
Here’s where Allstate wants to raise California homeowners’ insurance rates
![Advocates say a lawsuit to stop the sweep of an Oakland encampment could provide blueprint. Advocates say a lawsuit to stop the sweep of an Oakland encampment could provide blueprint.](https://www.mercurynews.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/SJM-L-OAKCAMP-0713-1.jpg?w=132)
SUBSCRIBER ONLY
After SCOTUS homelessness ruling, here’s how Bay Area advocates plan to halt encampment sweeps
![In January 2023, a mass shooting exposed squalid living conditions at some farms along the coast. In January 2023, a mass shooting exposed squalid living conditions at some farms along the coast.](https://www.mercurynews.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/SJM-L-FLOWERS-10XX-18.jpg?w=132)
San Mateo County scraps plans for Half Moon Bay farmworker housing project at former greenhouse
![Cities and counties across the region were awarded the money. Cities and counties across the region were awarded the money.](https://www.mercurynews.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/SJM-L-HOMELESS-0629-10.jpg?w=132)
Bay Area receives $14 million from state to combat youth homelessness
![The holiday weekend arrives just as a week-long heat wave has begun scorching California. The holiday weekend arrives just as a week-long heat wave has begun scorching California.](https://www.mercurynews.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/SJM-L-CALTRANS-06XX-11.jpg?w=136)
Bay Area highways and airports expected to be crowded amid record Fourth of July travel
![The insurance giant is asking regulators to raise rates for the second time in months. The insurance giant is asking regulators to raise rates for the second time in months.](https://www.mercurynews.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/SJM-L-STATEFARM-0702-1.jpg?w=131)
State Farm seeks ‘massive’ insurance rate hike for California homeowners
![Local mayors said unhoused people could soon face criminal penalties for turning down shelter. Local mayors said unhoused people could soon face criminal penalties for turning down shelter.](https://www.mercurynews.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/SJM-L-HOMELESS-0629-11.jpg?w=132)