SoCalGas funded a $60,000 grant to support Hope of The Valley’s six tiny home villages across Los Angeles. The nonprofit hosted a ribbon cutting at its newest project Thursday, located in Arroyo Seco Park. According to Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority there are more than 60,000 unhoused people in Los Angeles County. The tiny home village will help provide services and shelter to that population.
The Arroyo Seco Park project was funded and built by the City of Los Angeles with 117 units, 224 beds, and is the largest tiny home village in California and the country. Rowan Vansleve president and chief administrative and financial officer for Hope of The Valley said, “SoCalGas’ incredibly generous donation will empower so many of our homeless neighbors through their journey to permanent housing. Without generous donations like this from SoCalGas, we could not deliver all our life-changing services.”
Part of the grant will also go towards Hope of The Valley’s Trebek Center project, which will transform a Northridge Roller Rink into a facility that will provide Interim Housing with 107 beds.
Andy Carrasco vice president of communications, local government and community affairs for SoCalGas said, “There are many unsheltered people who experience homelessness every day and struggle to get back on their feet in our communities. Partnering with organizations who offer shelter and resources helps us improve the quality of life for all the communities we serve.”
The village will open next month and provides a pathway for the unhoused to find permanent and stable housing. It will serve unhoused men and women with an approximate 3.5-mile radius of the site encompassing portions of Boyle Heights, Eagle Rock, El Sereno, Glassell Park, Highland Park and Monterey Hills.
“This site is a vital part of ending homelessness in Los Angeles, while our goal is to place everyone in permanent housing, temporary housing like this site brings people off the streets immediately and stops the trauma, reduces the addiction and mental health issues and gives people a launching pad for the next chapter of their lives,” said Vansleve.
Unlike traditional shelter or affordable housing projects, tiny homes take a short time to build and assemble, at just a fraction of the cost. The nonprofit said each tiny home measures eight feet by eight feet and has a locking door, four windows with screens, heating, cooling and electricity, as well as a fire extinguisher, smoke detector, and carbon monoxide monitor. The nonprofit said the city will also provide additional resources that includes on-site laundry, food distribution, dining, access to social services, job training, and more.
SoCalGas is proud to partner with organizations like Hope of The Valley dedicated to ending homelessness in our communities. Last year SoCalGas gave $9.4 million in community investments - $5.5 million of that was dedicated to support health and human services. Between 2017-2021 SoCalGas has given more than $1.6 million to 107 unique organizations addressing the unsheltered population.
“Part of making a difference is working with other organizations dedicated to serving all of our communities. We will continue to give our time, efforts, and financial support to those who need it,” said Carrasco. In addition to the grant SoCalGas also provided the nonprofit with in-kind donations to help with COVID-19 relief.
For more information about Hope of The Valley click here.
