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September 19
1863 - Gen. Edward F. Beale loans money to A.A. Hudson and Oliver P. Robbins to erect toll house in Newhall Pass [story]
toll house


The county of Los Angeles and community partners are working hand-in-hand to combat homelessness, which has decreased for the first time in four years.

The latest Los Angeles County Homeless Count saw a 3-percent decline in the homeless population, and while progress has been made, there are still more than 53,000 people living on the streets or in temporary shelters that need to find permanent and supportive housing.

To help with this effort, Measure H, a voter-approved countywide sales tax, is funding innovative programs that will help individuals and families escape homelessness and enable others to stay housed.

In January 2018, the Community Development Commission/Housing Authority of the County of Los Angeles, along with the Los Angeles County Department of Regional Planning, launched the County’s Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) Pilot Program. The program incentivizes homeowners to construct new ADUs or preserve existing, unpermitted ADUs in exchange for accepting residents with limited means or homeless families.

In collaboration with the Los Angeles County Arts Commission, civic art played a role in the pilot program, opening up the conversation to a community of architects, designers, planners, and creative strategists. Through a design competition, contestants re-imagined the potential of ADUs and submitted concept designs.

As homeowners help in their own backyards, landlords are also in a unique situation to lend a helping hand. The County’s Homeless Incentive Program (HIP) provides monetary incentives to landlords to rent their available units to homeless individuals, families, and veterans. Since the launch of HIP in spring 2016, more than 800 formerly homeless households now have a safe place to call home.

One of the families HIP helped is a single mother who was a victim of domestic violence. She and her four children left her hostile living situation and had nowhere to go. After staying with friends, the family ended up living in their car or different shelters for several months.

After connecting with the St. Joseph Center and HIP, the family found a property owner willing to rent to them. “Getting connected with HIP was the best thing that could have happened to me and my family,” the formerly homeless single mother shared.

Due to the success of the County’s HIP, nine cities have also adopted the model and committed 2,600 housing vouchers annually, including the City of Los Angeles, Long Beach, Pomona, Burbank, Pasadena, Redondo Beach, Glendale, Inglewood, and Baldwin Park.

“It’s the collective strength and power of all Los Angeles County residents, businesses, and government officials that will yield the collaboration and innovation necessary to help in the fight to end homelessness,” Monique King-Viehland, CDC/HACoLA Executive Director, shared.

While Measure H is helping to fund new, innovative programs, there are also examples of how existing programs are adapting to help homeless families. For example, the CDC/HACoLA’s Public Housing Program is giving priority to homeless families, veterans, and victims of domestic abuse, as units at the South Scattered Sites (SSS) Family Public Housing Developments become available. As of June 12, 2018, 32 homeless families, totaling 139 household members, have been housed in subsidized units.

Additionally, the Los Angeles County Department of Children and Family Services found over 880 homeless families have children in the foster care system – and the only barrier to reunification is the lack of housing.

In lieu of placing children in foster care, the Family Reunification Housing Subsidy program provides housing assistance – which allows the family to live together in a stable environment. As of June 15, 2018, 70 families – totaling 157 children – were successfully housed. This also provided $2.5 million in savings for the County.

Affordable housing development in Los Angeles County has also made great strides in creating units for formerly homeless individuals, families, and veterans. Over the past five years, the County invested $182 million, which enabled developers to leverage $1.7 billion toward the production of 3,362 units. This means for every dollar the County invested, it yielded $6.50 of outside investment. Of those units, 230 were reserved for persons with mental illness; 434 for the homeless; and 123 for homeless veterans.

This is just the beginning. In fall 2018, the CDC/HACoLA will release its Notice of Funding Availability 24A, which will provide more than $100 million in funding towards new affordable housing development.

The good news – there has been significant progress in Los Angeles County’s fight to end homelessness. The CDC/HACoLA and its partners – the County, cities, homeowners, landlords, and community organizations – are investing time and resources so the 53,000 people experiencing homelessness can find a safe and affordable place to live.

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1 Comment

  1. The David says:

    Round them up, take them to a central processing location and assign them to city, county or state jobs or the military (much the same as ‘community service’) with the choice: work and get off the streets or face arrest.

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LOS ANGELES COUNTY HEADLINES
Wednesday, Sep 18, 2024
The Counties of Los Angeles and San Bernardino today announced the opening of multiple joint Local Assistance Centers to assist residents impacted by the Bridge and Line Fires.
Wednesday, Sep 18, 2024
Sheriff’s Department Announces New Law Enforcement Gang Policy
Tuesday, Sep 17, 2024
The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health is investigating two human cases of a rare parasitic infection, Baylisascaris procyonis, also known as raccoon roundworm.
Monday, Sep 16, 2024
The California Highway Patrol is dedicating Sept. 15-21 to promoting child passenger safety across California, focusing on the protection of the state’s youngest road users.
Friday, Sep 13, 2024
The 30th Annual Hart of the West Pow Wow will be held at William S. Hart Regional Park on Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 5-6.

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Latest Additions to SCVNews.com
1863 - Gen. Edward F. Beale loans money to A.A. Hudson and Oliver P. Robbins to erect toll house in Newhall Pass [story]
toll house
The Counties of Los Angeles and San Bernardino today announced the opening of multiple joint Local Assistance Centers to assist residents impacted by the Bridge and Line Fires.
L.A., San Bernardino Counties to Open Joint Local Assistance Centers for Residents Impacted by Bridge and Line Fires
Valencia Gynecology Associates, owned by longtime Santa Clarita Valley OB-GYN physician Don Nishiguchi, MD, has joined the Henry Mayo Newhall Hospital network. 
Valencia Gynecology Assoc. Joins Henry Mayo Network
JCI Santa Clarita is proud to announce the upcoming Veteran’s Resource Fair, scheduled to take place on Sept. 21 at William S. Hart Park. 
Sept. 21: JCI Invites All Veterans to Upcoming Resource Fair
A "friendies" field tournament  is being  hosted by the Saugus Instrumental Music program, with support from Valencia High, later this month. 
Sept. 21: All Valley Showcase Comes to Valencia High
Public, member-supported 88.5 FM The SoCal Sound, Southern California’s leading Triple-A (adult album alternative) format radio station has announced the lineup for its inaugural “Year-End Bash” taking place on Saturday, Dec. 7.
Dec. 7: CSUN Owned 88.5-FM The SoCal Sound Announces “Year End Bash” Lineup featuring Ben Gibbard
The Master's University cross-country teams continued their successful 2024 campaigns with strong finishes at the BIOLA Invitational on Friday, Sept. 13 at Craig Regional Park in Fullerton, Calif.
TMU Women Win, Men Place Second at XC Invitational
Sheriff’s Department Announces New Law Enforcement Gang Policy
Sheriff’s Department Announces New Law Enforcement Gang Policy
The biology department at California State University, Northridge has stayed committed to promoting STEM research carried out by K-12 students and teachers in the Los Angeles Unified School District.
CSUN Student Research Journal Celebrates 28 Years of Inspiring Scientific Imagination
Did you know the SCVEDC has an interactive, online tool that provides themed virtual tours of the amazing features the community has to offer? 
Take a Virtual Tour of the Santa Clarita Valley
California Institute of the Arts alum and visionary filmmaker Tim Burton (Film/Video 1979) was honored with the 2,788th star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
CalArts Alum Tim Burton Receives Star on Hollywood Walk of Fame
1962 - Articles of incorporation filed for Golden State Memorial Hospital on Lyons Avenue [story]
Golden State Hospital
The Santa Clarita Valley Senior Center welcomes back Jim Curry for an evening concert celebrating the music of John Denver on Saturday, Oct. 5 at 5 p.m. in the Grand Ballroom at Bella Vida.
Oct. 5: SCV Senior Center Welcomes Jim Curry ‘Take Me Home’
As part of the Santa Clarita Valley Water Agency's ongoing commitment to ensuring local groundwater quality and reliability, the SCV Water recently began construction on a new treatment facility to remove perchlorate and volatile organic compounds at Well 205 in Valencia.
SCV Water Begins New Water Treatment Project in Valencia
Get ready to set sail at the Pirates SENSES Block Party, presented by the city of Santa Clarita, Thursday, Sept 19 from 7-10 p.m. on main street in Old Town Newhall.
Sept. 19: SENSES Pirate Block Party
No. 21 College of the Canyons football team knocked off No. 5 Fullerton College 29-13 on Saturday night behind a stifling defensive effort and five field goals from Luis Rodriguez.
No. 21 Canyons Knocks Off No. 5 Fullerton 29-13
Six of the seven Foothill League Varsity football teams begin league play Friday night, Sept. 20.
Foothill League Football Begins for SCV Teams
The California Institute of the Arts will present the "NAACP Santa Clarita Masquerade Ball", Friday, Oct. 4, 7-11 p.m. at 24700 McBean Parkway, Valencia, CA 91355.
Oct. 4: NAACP Santa Clarita Masquerade Ball at Cal Arts
The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health is investigating two human cases of a rare parasitic infection, Baylisascaris procyonis, also known as raccoon roundworm.
Public Health Investigating Disease Spread from Animals to Humans
1879 - First official Newhall School building erected near Walnut & Ninth streets [story]
First Newhall School
The city of Santa Clarita is hosting Make A Difference Day on Saturday, Oct. 26 and is looking for enthusiastic residents to volunteer for various projects that benefit local nonprofits, as well as the city.
Oct. 26: Volunteers Needed for Make a Difference Day
Henry Mayo Newhall Hospital and PathPoint announced the graduation of Aiden Land and Andrew Mendence from the Project SEARCH internship program.
Henry Mayo Newhall Hospital, PathPoint Celebrate Grad Interns
The William S. Hart Union High School District has announced upcoming community information meetings about Learning Post Academy Independent Study School, Thursday, Sept. 18 and Friday, Sept. 19.
Sept. 18-19: Learning Post Academy Online Information Meetings
The Santa Clarita Community College District Board of Trustees will hold a special meeting Wednesday, Sept. 18, 5 p.m. in open session to interview and appoint a new trustee for Area 5.
Sept. 18: COC Board to Interview, Appoint Area 5 Trustee
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