Monday, February, 8, 2010
Shelter Partnership Joins Councilwoman Jan Perry on the Urban Land Institute's 1000 Homes Tour of Supportive, Permanent Housing for the Homeless
It is truly inspiring to have the opportunity to visit the agencies addressing homelessness on the front line and to see first-hand the life-changing work that is being done by so many dedicated people in our community. Last Saturday, I assisted in leading a tour organized by the Urban Land Institute of Los Angeles’ Young Leaders Group. The 1000 Homes Initiative is designed to educate the community—including developers, architects, students, elected officials and their staffs, and the general public—on the benefits of permanent, supportive housing as an important strategy for solving homelessness in our region.
Led by Los Angeles Councilwoman Jan Perry, representing the 9th Council District, I joined more than 50 community members in touring the developments of Skid Row Housing Trust and A Community of Friends—nonprofits that develop permanent, supportive housing for homeless persons who come from the shelters or the streets. We also visited Los Angeles’ largest emergency overnight shelter, New Image Emergency Shelter. We were so fortunate to have Councilwoman Perry on the tour as she is the City Council leader in promoting and supporting the development of permanent, supportive housing for the homeless and has made solving homelessness a priority.
Interior courtyard of the New Carver apartments,
built by Skid Row Housing Trust, at their opening event.
Permanent, supportive housing works extremely well for disabled homeless individuals—often people with mental disabilities, physical disabilities and/or substance abuse disorders—most of whom have also been homeless for a long time. Many of these individuals have multiple disabilities and are unable to secure and retain housing without the case management and health care supportive services that are provided on-site.
We also had the opportunity to meet people who were previously homeless, but now stably housed, and hear about their experiences. Councilwoman Perry and I spent time with a gregarious 45-year old man who secured his own apartment two years ago and then discovered his talents as a singer and songwriter. Before moving in, Steven spent three years encamped in a tent at Palisades Park in Santa Monica. He is now working part-time as an extra on films and thoroughly enjoys his life and his opportunities, including the ability to receive ongoing mental health treatment at a nearby clinic and prepare nutritious meals for himself.
In future blogs, I will share more about the developments that we visited and the agencies that sponsor these developments. In the meantime, please take a look at Shelter Partnership’s Facebook page where photos of the day’s activities are posted.
Originally published on ShelterPartnership.org.
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