Group Wants Vacant Site for Homeless Family Center

In 2007, data showed more than 1,300 homeless in Council District 14 were in families.

By Gloria Angelina Castillo, EGP Staff Writer

The old Boyle Heights Social Security Administration building on Breed Street may become a new place where homeless children and their parents can get help, if an application submitted earlier this year by Volunteers of America of Greater Los Angeles is approved.

The group’s president, Bob Pratt, told EGP that they don’t have authorization to use the building yet but their application has been recommended by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, but must be approved by the U.S. General Services Administration.

The non-profit Volunteers of America plans to offer counseling, job-search assistance, referrals and case management at the site for homeless families, said Pratt. He says the organization will use the building as office space.

“It will be strictly for office use, no residential [use],” said Pratt, adding that they will not offer health services or psychological services at the site.

There is a great need in the area for the type of services they are proposing to provide, said Pratt, There is not enough housing, and there are many families who do not necessarily fit the homeless stereotype but still need help, he said.

“It is a very significant problem in that community,” said Pratt.

Teresa Marquez, Boyle Heights resident and president of the “Boyle Heights Stakeholders Association” has expressed her opposition to homeless services being offered in the building. In an e-mail addressed to various people, including U.S. Representative Lucille Roybal-Allard, Councilman Jose Huizar, Senator Diane Feinstein, Senator Gil Cedillo and Assemblyman John Perez, she expressed her desire for the former Social Security facility to instead be used as a cultural center and noted its proximity to the historic Breed Street Shul.

Her main concern, however, seemed to be fear that services for the homeless would attract vagrants to the area.
“…Mentally ill shelters, women shelters, family shelters, and rehab shelters continue to increase the already over burden services of our community…” wrote Marquez on April 26, listing child molesters, rapists, burglars and muggers as some of the criminals who may be attracted to Boyle Heights.

“[We will be helping] homeless children and their families, I seriously doubt that will be a problem,” said Pratt, responding to Marquez’s fears.

The Social Security Administration moved from Breed Street to Soto almost a year ago, and while Volunteer of America does not know when its application will be approved, Pratt said they will have the funds needed to provide the services if granted permission to use the building.

Congresswoman Roybal-Allard, who represents the area, told EGP in a written statement that the Stewart B. McKinney Homeless Assistance Act gives priority consideration to proposals to assist the homeless when there is federal surplus property available.

“While my office has been closely monitoring the process and understands community concerns, it is the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) that reviews and evaluates the proposals based on applicable regulations,” said Roybal-Allard.

According to the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority’s (LAHSA) most recent statistics, in 2007 LA’s City District 14 (CD14, which includes part of downtown) had 5,559 homeless persons; 1,348 of them being in families, and 763 of them being youth under the age of 18. According to the same figures, there were 510 homeless families with children in CD14. The last homeless count conducted by LAHSA was in January, however that information will not be available until summer.

A recent and unrelated press release from the office of Supervisor Gloria Molina states that in County District 1, which she represents and includes Boyle Heights, there are 1,900 homeless families. The press release also states that there are more than 200 families who have sought refuge in motels with vouchers provided through the Winter Shelter Program, and more than 7,263 individuals in her district who have lost their jobs.

Operation Youth Educational Services (Operation YES) is another organization that applied to use the property on Breed Street to help the homeless. Juan “Johnny Jay” Jimenez, the group’s president, told EGP he wanted to establish a one-stop-shop for homeless with a focus on providing services to American war veterans.

According to LAHSA, in 2007, there were 882 homeless veterans in LA-CD14. The United States Veterans Initiative (Vets U.S.A.) wrote a letter of support that accompanied Jimenez’s application to acquire the surplus property.

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One Response to “Group Wants Vacant Site for Homeless Family Center”

Teresa Marquez on May 29th, 2009 7:50 am

Thank you for serving our community. The communication to the community on important facts and outreach has become a valuable daily need for people, specially at times of this world crisis. All other newspapers focus on important world affairs, that sometimes we can only pray for, but yet our this newspaper give us a hand to everyday life in our community. Most of all, the important issues in our community that we can be involved to insure that we maintain a qualilfty of life. One of the most important fight has beenagainst the Vernon Power Plans that will add to an already dangerous Air polluted communties.involvement, and concerns. A voice of the people is the most important. Thank you

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Group Wants Vacant Site for Homeless Family Center

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