Holos Communities Celebrates Avenida, LA County’s Newest Project Homekey Site

InnovationImpact

Sep 13

Holos Communities Executive Director & CEO Cristian Ahumada was joined by LA City Councilmember Mitch O'Farrell, California Department of Housing & Community Development Director Gustavo Velasquez, California Business, Consumer Services and Housing Agency Deputy Secretary Dhakshike Wickrema and others for a tour of LA County’s newest
Project Homekey site on Thursday, September 8th.

“Thanks to Governor Newsom’s vision and the hard work of our whole team at HCD, Homekey has created more than 12,500 supportive housing units for persons exiting homelessness,” said Lourdes Castro Ramírez, Secretary of the Business, Consumer Services and Housing Agency. “Local partners like Los Angeles County and Holos Communities have been essential to the success of this nation-leading program.”

When completed, Avenida will provide 75 studio apartments for unhoused individuals and will be completed in 1/3 of the time and roughly ½ the cost of typical affordable housing developments.

Avenida represents a holistic approach to development that takes global warming and racial equity into consideration. Avenida will repurpose the former Avenue Hotel located off the Hollywood Freeway Vermont exit, just steps of the Vermont/Beverly Red Line Station. As a rehab project located on the same block as an LA Metro stop, Avenida serves as an example of smart growth that leverages resources for an immediate solution.

“By reducing reliance on cars and construction associated with parking structures we reduce our carbon footprint. By rehabilitating existing buildings, we bring the goal of net zero construction that much closer,” Holos Communities Executive Director and CEO Cristian Ahumada said. “By providing permanent homes and robust services for the unhoused with our partners at the People Concern, we reduce the impact on our city’s emergency services and can provide a permanent solution to homelessness.”

You can learn more about Avenida by visiting the community page here.