Mission

To create housing options that model, with respect and dignity, sustainable, environmentally sensitive, affordable communities that provide equal and fair access to housing and human services for people with limited income.

History

Housing Works was founded in 2003 by a group of concerned members of the Immaculate Heart Community in response to the rise of homelessness, growing housing crisis, and lack of affordable rental units in the county of Los Angeles. For the past five years Housing Works has networked with property owners and developers who are willing to provide apartments with government rental subsidies to families and individuals who have been chronically homeless and struggle with serious mental illness. Our Home First Project was launched through a start-up grant from the Corporation for Supportive Housing under the seasoned leadership of Mollie Lowery.
In August 2007, with a grant from United Way, Home First staff assisted thirteen homeless families in moving into the Las Flores Apartments, owned by non-profit housing developer, A Community of Friends. Home First staff is providing support services and case management to these families to assure their success in retaining their housing. As of January 2012, we have an 86% housing retention rate in this building.
In July 2008, Home First launched the MIST project (Mobile Integrated Service Team) in partnership with A Community of Friends. MIST provides eviction prevention services to ACOF tenants who are at risk of losing their housing. Support for the project was through a 3 year grant funded by the County of Los Angeles (Homeless Prevention Initiative). After three years, the MIST provided services to sixty-four (64) ACOF households. MIST succeeded in helping 99% of the households served (64 out of 65) stabilize and retain their housing. Since November 2010 (with a grant from Corporation for Supportive Housing), Housing Works has expanded the work of MIST- providing eviction prevention services to tenants of Hollywood Community Housing Corporation, PATH Achieve in Glendale, L.A. Family Housing, Alternative Living for the Aging Bonnie Brae Village, PATH, GettLove, and Union Station’s Centennial Apartments. We have intervened in 26 tenant households, with a 100% retention rate.
In addition, MIST accepts referrals of chronically homeless persons from agencies and churches- providing outreach, engagement, assistance with obtaining permanent housing (scattered site), and on-site support services to help the new tenant transition into and sustain their new home. Eighteen out of twenty-one households have obtained and retained housing.
This part of our work has continued to expand since January 2011 when HW’s MIST began providing these services:

• to Hollywood4WRD’s twenty most vulnerable, chronically homeless persons [ten are housed and receiving support services; 18 actively engaged];
• to CSH funded Frequent User project in Downtown Los Angeles- twenty homeless persons who are high utilizers of hospital emergency services [9 active participants, all in shelter];
• to Project HOUSED Pasadena’s twenty most vulnerable, chronically homeless persons [begun in August; 20 housed; 26 actively engaged].

• In October, 2011 Housing Works became the service provider at the Young Burlington Apartments. This 30 unit building developed by W.O.R.K.S. focuses on the needs of transitional age youth, ages 18 to 24.
• In February, 2012 our work was taken to a new level of networking with the exciting linkage of housing and healthcare for high utilizers of emergency health services.
• With Economic Roundtable as the lead organization and funding from the Corporation for Supportive Housing, Housing Works is part of a 38 organization collaborative – one of four in the nation – to link supportive housing integrated with care management, and primary and behavioral health to improve health outcomes while reducing public costs among individuals with complex health needs. Using a housing first approach, individuals referred into this project will be able to access permanent housing with the service continuing way beyond their move into housing.

Vision and Purpose

Housing Works fosters access to safe, decent, affordable housing as a fundamental right for all.
Our vision is to:
BUILD healthy communities that are diverse in age, culture, income and race while holding a preferential option for the poor.
DEVELOP a range of housing options including rentals, co-ops and home ownership.
CREATE neighborhoods that support access to employment and transportation, enrich the body, mind and spirit, and promote sound environmental practices.