The Trust News

The Trust News Summer 2009 1317 EAST SEVENTH STREET LOS ANGELES, CA 90021 213 683-0522 PAGE 1

skid row housing trust [Homes. Support. Success.]

year then spent another year at the Weingart Center. But still, I had no place that I could call a home. I am a veteran of the United States Navy, and one day at the ASAP clinic (a drug and alcohol program) at the Vet-eran’s Administration (V.A.), I met Ron, an old friend of mine who I’ve written about many times on my blog (www.joycestake.blogspot.com). He had a nice apartment. He was independent and living quite well here in downtown. It was he who con-nected me to Skid Row Housing Trust. After a short time being on a waiting list, I received permission to move in to the Las Americas Hotel, just on the outskirts of Skid Row. That was January of 2003, and I’ve lived there very happily ever since. I was eligible for the Las Americas because of my homelessness and my close relationship with depression and addiction. I’m asked to participate in

In 2001, with absolutely nowhere else to go, I came to Skid Row. I was—and am to this day—an alcoholic, or addict, if you prefer, addicted to anything that would get me out of myself. Over the years, it had become a big problem, because ultimately, alcoholism is an exceptionally selfish disease. It took all of my time to maintain my addiction, which left little else for employers, family, friends or wives. Eventually, they would have no more of my nonsense and I found myself alone.

I’d lived in Los Angeles since I was three years old, but rarely had I come to “Downtown.” None of my friends did either. It was a place to avoid. It was dirty and unkempt with homeless people ruling the streets. Not a nice place to be. But in late December of 2001, I exited a showing of “The Lord of the Rings” half sloshed on vodka and discovered that I had nowhere else to go. I’d been kicked out of the Salvation Army’s Adult Rehabilitation Center program many times, and I knew that the downtown Harbor Light facility would probably accept me because they were an independent entity. By the time I made it there, it was near midnight. Still, they took me in. I was without resources. I had no money, no job and no hope of things turning around anytime soon. I needed some help. After I came to that realiza-tion, my path was relatively clear. Soon, I graduated from Harbor Light’s alcohol and drug program. I stayed there for a

TodayThe existing commercial property at the corner of Maple and 6th streets in downtown Los Angeles. See what’s coming, page 2.

In the Las Americas: Richard Joyce

The Trust is proud to publish an essay by one of our own in this quarter’s newsletter. Richard Joyce is a writer and satirist, who writes regularly at www.joycestake.blogspot.com. Richard served for four years, from 1978 to 1982, in the United States Navy and has been a resident of the Las Americas Hotel for the past six years.

Continued on page 2.

CompletedThe Abbey Apartments opened this past winter and provides 113 efficiency apart-ments for homeless men and women. It is designed by the award-winning firm Koning Eizenberg Architecture (www.kearch.com).

In constructionThe Trust has two developments and 173 units currently under construction in downtown Los Angeles. The New Carver Apartments is soon to be the Trust’s first permanent support-ive housing development in the South Park neighborhood of downtown Los Angeles. At 85% Construction Completion and designed by Michael Maltzan Architecture (www.mmaltzan.com), the Carver will include 97 efficiency apartments, 92 of which will have rental subsides from the Section 8 program for homeless adults. Construction on the Charles Cobb Apartments also continues. The project recently received an additional $900,000 in funding from the Community Redevelop-ment Agency in April and has achieved 55% Construction Completion. The Cobb is a 76-unit development that will provide 74 subsidized apartments for individuals experiencing chronic homelessness. Architects Kivotos Montenegro Partners, Inc. have designed additional amenities including ground floor commercial space, a second-floor courtyard, a green roof, and green building elements that will be

incorporated throughout the structure. The Cobb is expected to be completed by January 2010.

In the pipelineOne of the Trust’s newest supportive housing developments is the Star Apartments. Located at 240 E. 6th Street, the Star will be a mixed-use development designed by Michael Maltzan Architecture (www.mmaltzan.com). The project, which is currently in predevelopment, is designed with retail and parking on the ground floor, social service offices and open space for the residents on the second floor, and residential units above. The building will provide homes for homeless men and women and low-income individuals at a range of incomes. The Trust’s New Genesis Apart-ments will be breaking ground in winter 2009. It will utilize a new program avail-able through President Obama’s Ameri-can Recovery and Reinvestment Act, which allows tax credits to be exchanged for equity. The New Genesis is a redevel-opment of the existing Genesis Hotel in the Historic Core of downtown Los Angeles. It will include ground floor commercial space, subterranean parking, and 106 apartment units. The New Genesis is designed by Killefer Flammang Architects (www.kfarchitects.com), and is seeking LEED certification.

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Our Vision The Trust has retained Michael Maltzan Architecture to design our

latest development, the Star Apartments. The Trust will create a mixed-use

development including a new four-story residential structure above the existing

building shell at the corner of Maple and 6th Street.

Development Corner activities that are beneficial to me. I don’t mind. I like things that are beneficial to me. I go to twelve-step meetings and depression groups at the V.A., and I meet with my case managers from Skid Row Housing Trust, regularly attending their various support groups. After the 2004 general election, I finally found my passion. You might say I found my life’s mission. I now devote most of my time to writing political and social commentary and satire. I do this rather than being on the streets and wandering through life aimlessly. This was made possible in large part, because of the stability and support provided by the Trust. Skid Row Housing Trust has given me the opportunity to have my life back. I pay my rent, and I now have a place I can call home. It’s just a small room. But it’s mine, and it’s all I need. With my depression and all—what can I say?—I take the medication, and some days are better than others. Thankfully, I always know that I have a great place to stay, nice neighbors and a truly wonderful and motivated support staff that I can come to whenever I feel the need. My current case managers, Erin and Paul (two young kids, compared to my fifty-three years) are just the nicest people you’d ever hope to meet or work with. They make the Las Americas a great place to live by creating activities like our weekly Garden Club (where magic tomatoes, peppers and oranges appear somewhat—well, magically), a Cooking Club (Lemon Chicken over Pasta this week), Yoga Class, “Drama Free” support groups, and field trips. (On one of these trips, I almost killed myself trying to ice-skate in Pasadena). Erin and Paul are not only a reliant source of support and consistency; they have also become my true friends. And one can’t have too many of those. I have been told that this newsletter goes out to many possible donors to Skid Row Housing Trust. In this day and age, the Trust provides a viable answer to the problem of homelessness in this country and that could not be a better investment.

Thank you, and have peace in your life, Richard Joyce

Continued from page 1.

The Los Angeles Cham-ber of Commerce and the United Way recently announced an exciting new partnership focused on ending homelessness in Los Angeles.

The partnership was launched on May 27th at the Business Leaders Ending Homelessness forum held at the Chamber of Commerce. “When politicians see business leaders taking a role, that’s when we really get traction,” says Elise Buik, president and CEO of United Way of Greater Los Angeles. Over 100 representatives from dozens of businesses across the county attended the forum, which included a peer-to-peer dialog with business leaders from cities across the country engaged in ending homelessness. Chet Grey, Homeless Services Director of the Washington D.C. Downtown DC Business Improvement District (BID), described how his BID has moved over 300 chronically homeless individuals into permanent supportive housing this year. Patty Fontneau, Chief Operating Officer for Holme, Roberts & Owen LLP, described how Denver, Colorado is on track to achieve a 75% reduction in chronic homelessness within a five year period and has built 1,243 new units of permanent supportive housing in three years. Becky Kanis, Director of Innovations for Common Ground Institute, described how New York City achieved an 87% reduction in chronic homelessness in Times Square and how the City of New

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York is on track to achieve a two-thirds reduction in chronic homelessness citywide in 2010. Permanent supportive housing and Housing First programs are demonstrat-ing concrete results reducing homeless-ness in these diverse cities across the country. The Trust was honored to be asked to share our experiences of implementing these strategies locally at the forum.

“Skid Row Housing Trust is doing invaluable work to provide perma-nent supportive housing for the most vulnerable homeless men and women in our commun-ities,” said Buik. Buik continued, “The Trust was instrumental in initiating this exciting new partnership between United Way and the LA Area Chamber of Commerce to cultivate business champions on this most critical issue. We applaud their leadership in not only providing critical housing and services, but also in partner-ing with United Way to build the public will it will take to end homelessness in Los Angeles County.” The Chamber of Commerce and United Way will create a task force of business leaders from across the county to look at the best practices that have achieved these results in other cities. The task force will create recommendations for how Los Angeles can adopt these best practices and present the findings to local policy makers and elected officials.

For more information visit the www.unitedwayla.org or contact Christine Marge at (213) 808-6527.

Skid Row Housing Trust: 20 Years• Providing homes for the most vulnerable homeless, disabled and/or low-income men and women since 1989

• Permanent supportive housing development – property management – social services – integrated health treatment

• 21 developments completed

• 1,316 apartments for the most vulnerable

• Innovative collaborations providing on-site integrated healthcare, mental health treatment, sub- stance abuse treatment and case management

• Leadership in homeless policy

• And more on the way...

Policy Update

LA Business Community Embraces Ending Homelessness

Los Angeles County Supervisor Zev Yaroslavsky providing the keynote address at the Los Angeles Chamber of Commerce and United Way of Greater Los Angeles Business Leaders Ending Homelessness forum.

We will celebrate that challenges can be overcome. We will celebrate the thousands of individuals who have changed their lives by moving into our supportive housing. We will celebrate the power of design to transform lives and communities. We will celebrate the amazing community who continue to support our mission even in these hard times. I am pleased to be able to invite each and every one of you to a celebration of the Trust’s 20th anniversary and the grand opening of our latest development. We would like nothing more than to celebrate this momentous occasion and the grand opening of this amazing building with you!

Sincerely,Mike Alvidrez

For more information visit us at www.skidrow.org

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Skid Row Housing Trust’s philosophy is simple: Homes + Support = Success

The Trust develops, manages and operates permanent supportive housing for homeless men and women in Los Angeles. The Trust creates affordable apartments in buildings which also provide a complete range of support services necessary to move beyond poverty, illness and addiction.Skid Row Housing Trust is a 501c(3) organization to which contributions are tax-deductible.Skid Row Housing Trust, 1317 E. 7th Street, Los Angeles, CA 90021 213-683-0522

Please save the date to join us on September 24th to celebrate the Skid Row Housing Trust’s 20th Anniversary and the Grand Opening of the New Carver Apartments!

20th Anniversary

Sept. 24th

Dear friends and supporters,2009 will represent many things to many people. For us here at Skid Row Housing Trust, this year is a mix of challenges and accomplishments. 2009 is our 20th anniversary. 20 years ago, in 1989, the Trust was formed by a group of commit-ted activists and civic leaders who knew that Skid Row needed to preserve and rebuild itself as a residential community. Our founders knew that the most vulner-able in our community needed the stability and support that only having a home of their own could provide. That simple mission, to rebuild lives and improve our community by providing stable homes, has carried our organiza-tion through many challenging times. We have seen homelessness explode on the streets of Skid Row, and on streets across this nation. We have seen the resources to help the most vulnerable wither, and at times, all but disappear. We have seen political will to solve homeless-ness emerge and recede riding the changing tides of media attention, term

limits, and consensus. And now we face the greatest economic downturn in generation, which will put more people out of there homes and rob our communi-ties of the scarce resources needed to help people get back on their feet. Through each of these challenges our determination to pursue our mission has only grown stronger. Our mantra – Homes. Support. Success. – has only grown louder. We know how to end homelessness. We know that homeless-ness ends each time a man, woman, or family steps back into a home of their own and is offered the support to remain stably housed. Most astonishing is the fact that it costs less to keep people housed and connect them back to permanent housing, than is does to pay for the expensive emergency room-jail-shelter-streets cycle of homelessness. In this year, our 20th anniversary and our latest challenge, we have decided to do more. We will keep building. We will keep serving. We keep supporting. We will keep ending homelessness. And, we will celebrate.

Westport Construction at work on the roof of the New Carver Apartments.

Join us for the Grand Opening on September 24th!