Permanent supportive housing needed
PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING developed by PATH Ventures includes Winnetka Village Apartments on Sherman Way, immediately adjoining single-family neighborhoods. The project provides 95 units of permanent housing for senior adults. A total of 62 of the units are set aside as permanent supportive housing for individuals who are formerly homeless.
With the recent and nearby dedication of additional permanent supportive housing, it becomes even clearer that one opportunity to address homeless encampments on our streets and sidewalks is to utilize available parcels in multi-family zoned neighborhoods and along arterial streets to build permanent housing.
On Sept. 30, numerous community leaders came together near Beverly Boulevard, just east of Vermont Avenue, to celebrate the grand opening of the second and final phase of PATH Metro Villas, an expansive urban campus providing permanent and interim housing and supportive services for low-income households and veterans and individuals experiencing homelessness. The affordable apartments in the project have available a range of on-site support services.
Created and operated by People Assisting the Homeless (PATH) and its development arm, PATH Ventures, this residential complex includes services such as case management offices, community rooms, and a variety of amenities including mental and community health care clinics. This is what comprises supportive housing — facilities that reinforce an holistic and service rich approach to housing people formerly experiencing homelessness.
PATH
Now a large, statewide organization, PATH actually started in Westwood in 1984. It was founded following a community meeting the previous December at Westwood Presbyterian Church.
Committed to ending homelessness for individuals, families, and communities in California, PATH now accomplishes this by building affordable supportive housing and providing homeless services in more than 150 cities.
An example of a PATH project immediately adjacent to single-family homes is Winnetka Village Apartments, built by PATH in 2016 and pictured on the front page of this issue.
Housing First
Numerous speakers at the PATH Metro Villas dedication emphasized that these new apartments are testament to the power of Housing First – the proven effective approach that prioritizes providing people with safe, stable homes. Of course, both candidates now running to be the city’s next mayor also emphasize that there still needs to be a transitional step of getting people off of the street and into interim housing.
The supportive homes at PATH Metro Villas end homelessness for the residents, and the project’s wrap-around services support their ongoing physical and mental health needs, ensuring that they can reach their goals.
PATH RIBBON CUTTING for the dedication of the final phase of its Metro Villas (whose colorful rooftop sign is very visible on the south side of the Hollywood Freeway, just east of Vermont Avenue). Holding the giant scissors in the center of the photo is PATH Chief Executive Officer Jennifer Hark Dietz. Photo by Gary Leonard
At the dedication event, PATH Chief Executive Officer Jennifer Hark Dietz said of the completed project, “[It] epitomizes the partnerships that are required to end homelessness for individuals, families and communities. Through public funding, private giving, and community collaboration, we are able to end homelessness for nearly 200 people and provide them with comprehensive services to help them thrive.” More information is at: epath.org.
PATH Ventures
The development arm of the nonprofit organization was started in 2007. PATH 
Ventures builds and operates affordable rental homes paired with on-site services. PATH Ventures has nearly 2,500 affordable and supportive homes constructed or in pre-development. Learn more: bit.ly/3StrEnk.
17th Annual Jazz Night
To help raise funds for its continued production of affordable homes, PATH Ventures is hosting its 17th Annual Jazz Night at The Broad Stage in Santa Monica on Thurs., Nov. 3. Tickets for the fundraising cocktail reception, dinner and live jazz concert start at $200, and more information is available from katiet@epath.org and at: bit.ly/3F9MQvM.
Category: News
