Monday March 11th marked the beginning of a new era for downtown San Diego’s homeless population. Well over 700 individuals joined Connections Housing as it officially celebrated opening its doors to help local homeless individuals move into permanent housing.

This center is the long-awaited result of a partnership between four of Southern California’s top housing and service agencies—Affirmed Housing, PATH Ventures, PATH (People Assisting The Homeless), and Family Health Centers of San Diego—as well as more than two dozen local service providers who will offer supportive services on-site. The state-of-the-art facility permanently houses 73 people, provides interim housing for 150 homeless individuals, contains a federally-qualified health center, and connects homeless individuals with critical supportive services designed to help them successfully move off neighborhood streets.
About Affirmed Housing Group
An award-winning San Diego developer and operator of affordable housing projects, with more than 1,900 affordable rental and for sale units developed and more than 400 multifamily apartments in the pipeline for development. Through collaboration with civic leaders and private-sector financial partners, Affirmed Housing Group is dedicated to improving and sustaining the viability of California communities through the development of well-designed and professionally managed, high quality housing. www.affirmedhousing.com

About PATH (People Assisting The Homeless)
Southern California’s leader in innovative approaches to ending homelessness, working in more than 60 cities in the region. PATH works to address homelessness through a combination of services leading to housing, including rapid re-housing assistance, strategic street outreach, permanent supportive housing development, and supportive services for the most vulnerable populations. www.epath.org

About PATH Ventures
An affordable development corporation that improves individual lives and communities by developing and maintaining quality affordable housing and providing services to the residents of that housing that bring personal stability and improved quality of life for people in need. Over 1,000 units are completed or in the pipeline for construction. www.pathventures.org

About Family Health Centers of San Diego
Family Health Centers of San Diego is a non-profit community health center organization whose mission is to provide caring, affordable, high quality healthcare and supportive services to everyone, with a special commitment to uninsured, low income and medically underserved persons. As the largest provider of safety net healthcare in the region, Family Health Centers of San Diego cared for more than 160,000 individuals in 2010 through over 598,000 individual patient visits. www.fhcsd.org

Forty-nine low-income seniors—30 of whom were homeless and living with a mental illness—now have safe, permanent homes thanks to the recent completion of the NoHo Senior Villas in the heart of the NoHo Arts District.

Representatives of PATH Ventures and Clifford Beers cut the ceremonial ribbon alongside Los Angeles City Councilmembers Paul Krekorian and Tom LaBonge, as well as representatives from the Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health, the City of Los Angeles Housing Department, and the California Tax Credit Allocation Committee.

PATH Ventures will direct the facility’s supportive services, focusing on connecting residents to the full range of services they need to gain increased independence and remain stably housed.

“NoHo Senior Villas addresses the desperate need for affordable housing for low-income, homeless seniors living with mental illness in our community. It’s a travesty that so many of our elderly neighbors live in poverty, and we are proud to play a role in this development,” said John Molloy, Executive Director of PATH Ventures.

A case in point: 60-year-old Deborrah Rogers, who has been homeless off and on since escaping an abusive relationship in 2001.

“When I first moved in, there was a lot of anxiety because I’d been homeless so long,” said Rogers. “But sitting on my bed and looking down at the traffic going by on Lankershim, I’m just overwhelmed. I never expected to get a place of this caliber. I’m pinching myself to make sure it’s true.”

Designed by Killefer Flammang Architects (KFA), the five-story, 49-unit project was specifically created to provide a supportive environment for a special needs population, including those living with physical and mental disabilities. The $16 million project is also distinguished by community-building recreational elements, including a rooftop garden, a landscaped front yard, a central courtyard, and a community room that is also available for neighborhood civic forums.

Funding for the NoHo project was made possible by an allocation of tax-exempt bonds from the California Debt Limit Allocation Committee; an allocation of low-income housing tax credits from the California Tax Credit Allocation Committee; tax credit syndication through Raymond James Tax Credit Funds; funds from the City of Los Angeles Housing Department Affordable Housing Trust Fund; a construction loan from Citi Community Capital; a capital loan and operating subsidy from the Mental Health Services Act (administered by the Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health and the California Housing Finance Agency); a Governor’s Homeless Initiative loan (administered by the California Department of Housing and Community Development); and an Affordable Housing Program loan from the Federal Home Loan Bank of San Francisco.

NOHO Senior Villas Application Instructions
NOHO Senior Villas Application

Please read all instructions carefully, as we will NOT accept applications that are over-nighted, faxed or handdelivered. All applications must be sent via US Post Office mail only. Additionally, application package is not considered complete until we received the certified copy of the MHSA application.