On March 26, People Assisting the Homeless celebrated the opening of the first phase of PATH Metro Villas, a 65-unit supportive-housing development for individuals who previously experienced homelessness. PATH Metro Villas is a partnership with co-developers Affirmed Housing and PATH Ventures, an affiliate of PATH. Attendees included Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti; Los Angeles Councilman Mitch O’Farrell, 13th District; Los Angeles County Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas; Joel John Roberts, CEO of PATH; Amy Anderson, Executive Director of PATH Ventures; and many others.

Last month, Mayor Eric Garcetti, Councilman Mitch O’Farrell, 13th District, and others were on hand to help open a 65-unit housing development for people who previously were homeless. (photo by Jamie Rector)

“Homelessness is the humanitarian crisis of our time, and we will only end it by building as much supportive housing as we can, as quickly as we can,” Garcetti said. “We will overcome this challenge – project by project and door by door – and days like this remind us what’s possible when everyone works together.”

“We are thrilled to welcome residents to this new community,” Roberts said. “Today’s event celebrates the start of a new journey for our residents, as well as the culmination of an incredible collaboration among many organizations.”

The David T.C. Ho Family Building will include 33 studio, 31 one-bedroom and 1 two-bedroom manager apartments, as well as community rooms, counseling and case management offices, and a Veterans Connections Center for veteran services.

On-site services include case management, job training kitchen, health and wellness programs, a bike share program and support with independent living provided by four full-time PATH staff members. The facilities provide services in four key areas: housing, health care, employment, and veteran services.

“This supportive housing project will help those on the streets live more stable lives,” said O’Farrell, who chairs the city’s Homelessness and Poverty Committee. “We need more of this type of housing to alleviate heavy rent burdens and improve the overall health of our neighborhoods while allowing residents to easily access critical services.”

A second phase of construction will bring the size of the whole project to 187 affordable housing units, plus a primary healthcare clinic and mental health clinic. Phase two is set to open in March 2020 and is one of the first major developments to launch since voters across Los Angeles approved Measure H and Proposition HHH.

The PATH Metro Villas are located at 340 N. Madison Ave. For information, visit epath.org.