Los Angeles is getting a new affordable housing development, and it's being built on a patch of land that used to pump oil. The project called The Arlington is breaking ground and aims to provide 84 supportive homes for those earning less than half of the median income in the area. Gustavo Velasquez, Director of California's Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) was present at the inaugural event alongside local leaders, indicating strong state support for the initiative.
Half of the homes in Arlington will be allocated to people and families in the process of leaving homelessness behind, a stark reminder of the city's ongoing battle with the homelessness crisis. The funding for the project includes a hefty $22 million from state programs focused on infill infrastructure and multifamily housing. The development is promising not just as a roof over heads, it's meant to offer its residents easy access to groceries, transit, parks, and health services.
According to a release by HCD, this project isn't just about putting a dent in housing scarcity. It's also part of the greater scheme to patch up environmental injustices. The Cleanup in Vulnerable Communities Initiative, launched by California Governor Gavin Newsom in 2021, makes it clear that Arlington stands on soil that has been thoroughly cleansed from its polluted past as an oil drilling site.
Residents of The Arlington can look forward to common areas, a fitness room, laundry facilities, and outdoor spaces, but it doesn't end there. The supportive services planned are thorough; including financial management, case management, parenting education, and even assistance with employment. This whole package could become more commonplace across California, with Proposition 1's approval, which is set to bolster HCD's Homekey+ program, ensuring more permanent supportive homes spring up in the future.
