Charles Cobb Apartments will provide housing to the most vulnerable, disabled and chronically homeless individuals on Skid Row in new beautifully designed homes
Los Angeles, CA – June 18, 2010 – (RealEstateRama) — Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa today celebrated the Grand Opening and building dedication of the Charles Cobb Apartments- a 76 unit permanent supportive housing development for formerly homeless and disabled men and women.
“Addressing our shared responsibility to decrease homelessness and increase housing availability requires partnerships between communities and philanthropic efforts, as well as increased support from the state and federal government,” Mayor Villaraigosa said. “Only by cultivating these kinds of partnerships will we be able to generate the resources necessary to improve the quality of life for the most vulnerable. The Charles Cobb Apartments is the perfect example of the fruits of our collective labor, providing our fellow Angelenos with a permanent home and the support they need to stay off the streets.”
For the ribbon cutting, the Mayor was joined by Councilwoman Jan Perry, Supervisor Zev Yaroslavsky, Doug Guthrie, General Manager of Los Angeles Housing Department (LAHD), Rudy Montiel, President and CEO of the Housing Authority of the City of Los Angeles (HACLA), Elise Buik, CEO of the United Way of Greater Los Angeles, and Bea Stotzer, Chair of the HACLA Board of Commissioners.
The Charles Cobb Apartments (The Cobb) provide homes and support for the most vulnerable men and women living on the streets of Skid Row. Many of the Cobb residents spent years and decades living on sidewalks and in shelters due to debilitating illnesses and disabilities. With the opening of the Cobb, these men and women have the opportunity to rebuild their health, dignity and lives.
The Cobb has more than 4,000 sq. ft. of shared community space including an open?air central courtyard, community room, community kitchen, two solarium seating areas and a green rooftop garden; it will provide homes for 74 chronically homeless individuals and two onsite property managers employed by the Skid Row Housing Trust. The ground floor includes space for integrated supportive services including primary medical care, mental health counseling and substance abuse treatment.
The Skid Row Housing Trust’s model of permanent homes with integrated services has an remarkable success rate with 90% of residents remaining stably housed after moving into homes.
“We know how to solve chronic homelessness in Los Angeles,” said Skid Row Housing Trust Executive Director Mike Alvidrez. “The (Skid Row Housing) Trust is committed to bringing all partners to the table to implement the models that work: Housing first for the most vulnerable homeless men and women in permanent supportive housing with on?site integrated services. Because of the collaboration of our city, county, state and private investment partners we’re radically altering the trajectory of our residents’ lives, many of whom were the most destitute members of our community before moving in.”
Unprecedented collaboration between the city and county in the development of the Cobb Apartments represents a new model for the way the region responds to the issue of chronic homelessness. Agencies that helped to fund the operations and services of the building include the Housing Authority of the City of Los Angeles, Los Angeles County Department of Health Services, Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health, Los Angeles County Department of Public Health, Substance Abuse Prevention and Control and Los Angeles County Second District – Supervisor Mark Ridley?Thomas.
The Cobb Apartments will save taxpayers more than $1 million per year in defrayed public services costs by providing chronically homeless individuals with homes, healthcare, counseling and other supportive services rather than consigning them to access care in emergency rooms and through incarceration.
The Villaraigosa Administration has invested more public funds in permanent supportive housing than have been cumulatively invested in the past decade and during the last five years, the office has funded over 1,500 units of permanent supportive housing.
Mayor Press Contact:
Rachel Brashier (213) 978-0741
