A Helping Hand for Families
In the neighborhoods near downtown Los Angeles, many single mothers barely earn the minimum wage as domestics, garment workers or in other demanding jobs. They work hard, and are willing to pay their own way. But safe, affordable housing and child care is often out of reach for their families.
Ground-breaking is scheduled today on Casa Loma, a new family housing complex with a day-care center on its premises. It will provide 110 apartments for very poor single parents, and senior citizens in the Temple/Beaudry area just west of downtown Los Angeles. The monthly rents will start as low as $85, which would make a studio apartment affordable for a person on general relief. The highest rent will top out at $555 for a four-bedroom apartment suitable for large families.
Keeping those low rents permanently affordable is an expensive proposition. The project is expected to cost $18 million. It is funded largely by the city’s Community Redevelopment Agency and the state Department of Housing and Community Development’s Century Freeway Housing Program and Rental Housing Construction Program. Private investment includes major contributions from Chevron USA, American Savings Bank and seed money from United Way.
This intergenerational project is the brainstorm of New Economics for Women, a nonprofit economic development corporation founded by the Comision Femenil Mexicana Nacional. These Latinas help other Latinas help themselves. But the new housing won’t be restricted to any single ethnic group, or only to women, although it will serve a predominantly Latino immigrant neighborhood.
All tenants who live at Casa Loma will be asked to set career or educational goals. Single fathers who speak only Spanish will be encouraged to learn English at classes right there. Single mothers, who want to move from worker to entrepreneur, can also get information near home. Senior citizens will be able to take an array of classes.
Finding affordable housing and day care is often a nightmare in Los Angeles. Casa Loma will put the two together for some very lucky families.
