CLPHA Press Room

From the Housing Authority of the City of Los Angeles (HACLA):

CNN’s recent segment on unhoused veterans in Los Angeles highlights the critical importance of coordinated, housing‑first strategies — and showcases why HACLA’s work matters. The report underscores how veterans benefit when local agencies, the VA, and service providers align around permanent housing solutions and supportive services.

For HACLA, the story reinforces the momentum already underway: expanding affordable housing opportunities, accelerating veteran voucher placements, and strengthening cross‑agency partnerships that help veterans move from encampments into stable homes. The segment serves as a reminder that when housing resources and supportive services come together, Los Angeles can deliver real, lasting progress for those who served our country.

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Last month,  HACLA President & CEO Lourdes Castro Ramirez appeared on FOX 11's Good Day LA to discuss the House Our Vets Initiative, a collaboration with Mayor Karen Bass to get homeless veterans off the street and into stable housing. She speaks on the success of the initiative thus far, and answers questions, concerns and more. 

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From the Norfolk Redevelopment and Housing Authority:

For many students, Spring Break is a time to unplug for a week. But from April 6-10, Norfolk Redevelopment and Housing Authority (NRHA) is presenting its youth residents with different opportunities to be active and thrive.

This year, NRHA is pairing a sports-inspired Spring Break Sports Jam, which blends high-energy athletic programming with a high-tech STEM Boot Camp designed to keep students engaged and focused on the future.

The Sports Jam week kicks off with a heavy emphasis on community and movement with a football clinic on Monday, April 6, followed by a kick-ball tournament on Tuesday, April 7. Both events will be at the Calvert Square Envision Center from 11 a.m.-3 p.m.

NRHA Youth Services Specialist Breion Taylor said the football clinic will feature structured skills and drills sessions led by local coaches from the Community 1st organization. These partners are coming out to mentor the youth, focusing on teamwork and athletic fundamentals.

Taylor is hopeful the tournament, and all the events, will foster stronger bonds between the community’s generations and the agency.

“Depending on turnout, we’d like to get some kids versus adults games going,” Taylor said. “And it would be funny to get some NRHA staff to go against some youth – it’s something everyone is looking forward to.”

Another event the agency has been intentional about planning is the Southside Field Day at Diggs Town on Thursday, April 9. Far from a typical park outing, Duane Rollins, another youth services specialist, explained that the Field Day will comprise of many retro games and activities, such as bean-bag tossing, three-legged races and a dunking booth.

“We’ve got a whole lot of different ideas to make it fun for the kids,” Rollins said.

The Spring Break Sports Jam week concludes with a Sneaker Ball on Friday, April 10 from 5-8 p.m. Youth are encouraged to dress to impress, following the night’s theme of Fresh Fits, Fresh Kicks.

“We’ll have a DJ and photo opportunities for the kids,” Rollins added. “And there will be different prizes for best sneakers and best dance.”

While the fields are buzzing with sports, another group of students will be embarking on the academic arm of the week – a STEM Boot Camp, in partnership with Community Outreach Coalition, Inc., and Coastal Virginia STEM Ecosystem.

NRHA Youth Programs Manager, Tashonna Thorne, said the program is designed to bridge the gap between classroom theory and real-world application.

“The first day will be a learning day at the Calvert Square Envision Center with our partners,” said Thorne, adding that represented fields include healthcare, engineering, computer science and STEM-focused skilled trades. “However, the exciting part will be when the students head out on field trips.”

Students will travel to the Tidewater Community College (TCC) Apprenticeship Program Skilled Trades campus in Portsmouth, the TCC Norfolk campus and Old Dominion University.  There, participants will receive a front-row seat for modern apprenticeship programs and technical training facilities.

The goal is to demystify high-tech career paths. By visiting local campuses and seeing apprenticeship programs in action, NRHA youth get an early look at the certifications and skills required for the rapidly changing job market, Thorne said.

NRHA Vice President of Client Services, Julius Norman, said the agency’s goal is widespread engagement for all its spring break offerings.

“By providing a safe, structured environment throughout the day, the agency ensures that the fun of Spring Break also serves a functional purpose,” he said. “That purpose is building resilience and showing students what they can achieve.

From the Housing Authority of the County of San Bernardino's newsletter:

Liberty Lane, a new affordable housing community in Redlands dedicated to serving veterans and individuals with special needs, began leasing to new residents in January. The development features 80 affordable apartment homes, including 62 permanent supportive housing units specifically reserved for homeless and at-risk veterans.

These homes will provide long-term stability combined with comprehensive supportive services designed to promote housing retention, wellness and self-sufficiency.

Developed by A Community of Friends in partnership with the San Bernardino County Community Development and Housing Department, the Housing Authority of the County of San Bernardino (HACSB), the Department of Behavioral Health, the Loma Linda VA Medical Center, and U.S. VETS, Liberty Lane reflects strong collaboration across agencies committed to serving those who have served our country. Residents will benefit from high-quality, affordable housing and on-site case management, and clinical services.

HACSB Deputy Executive Director Rishad Mitha praised the success of the new community: “This development is a testament to what can be accomplished when mission-driven partners come together. Working alongside A Community of Friends, San Bernardino County, the Loma Linda VA Medical Center, and U.S. VETS, Liberty Lane demonstrates how coordinated housing development and supportive services can create much- needed affordable housing for veterans. With the occupancy of Liberty Lane, our veterans now have a place to call home and access to supportive services that promote health, stability, and independence."

From the Oakland Housing Authority's press release:

The Oakland Housing Authority (OHA) has launched Building Bridges: Hospital to Home (H2H), an innovative pilot program that recognizes stable housing as critical to children’s health. The program is supported by a $1.37 million funding award from Alameda Alliance for Health and delivered in partnership with Oakland Affordable Housing Preservation Initiatives (OAHPI) and UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospital Oakland.

Today’s announcement celebrates the enrollment of the first two families into the program.

The program provides 50 two- and three-bedroom apartments in Oakland at a deeply affordable rent of $250 per month for up to five years, along with comprehensive wraparound services to support the families’ health and long-term stability. OHA is subsidizing the housing units and administering the program.

H2H serves families with children who are being or were treated in the Neonatal or Pediatric Intensive Care Units (NICU or PICU) at UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospital Oakland; are insured through Alameda Alliance Medi-Cal; live in Alameda County; and are experiencing or at risk of homelessness.

“This program is rooted in compassion for families navigating one of the most difficult moments in their lives,” said Patricia Wells, Executive Director of the Oakland Housing Authority. “When a child is facing a serious medical crisis, stable housing becomes part of the care families need to heal and move forward. By connecting families to housing and coordinated support, we’re helping create the stability and dignity every child and parent deserves, along with a pathway to long-term economic independence.”

Mayor Barbara Lee praised the collaborative effort and the program’s focus on prevention and family stability.

“In Oakland, we know that housing stability and family wellbeing are deeply connected—especially when a child is facing a medical crisis,” said Mayor Barbara Lee. “Building Bridges: Hospital to Home compliments the City’s long-standing partnership with the Oakland Housing Authority, including initiatives like the Building Bridges and Oakland PATH Rehousing Initiative that have already supported approximately 180 households. Delivered through community-based partners, with the City providing supportive services and OHA ensuring long-term housing stability, this work reflects more than a decade of collaboration to help families move from instability to security with dignity and care.”

How the Program Works
UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospital Oakland social workers refer families to housing units near the hospital that have been set aside so families can stay close to their children during medical treatment. Families must meet the program’s referral criteria, including being an Alameda Alliance Medi-Cal member residing in Alameda County, experiencing or at risk of homelessness, and having a child admitted to the Neonatal or Pediatric Intensive Care Units (NICU and PICU). OHA  determines eligibility through its intake process.

“At UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospitals, our mission to care for our patients, their caregivers, and their loved ones extends beyond our walls,” said Nicholas Holmes, MD, President of UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospitals. “Safe, stable housing has an enormous impact on children — supporting how quickly they recover from injury and illness, as well as their long-term health outcomes. Through this partnership, we’re building on our long-standing commitment to the health of Oakland and the East Bay, and our continued investment in this community.”

In addition to affordable housing, participating families receive wraparound services, including two years of utility assistance and two annual $800 stipends to help cover basic needs such as clothing and personal items, as well as two annual community events. Families also may have the opportunity to enroll in OHA’s Family Self‑Sufficiency (FSS) program to support long‑term economic independence.

Cross-Sector Partnership to Improve Health Outcomes
The program is funded through Alameda Alliance for Health’s Housing and Homelessness Incentive Program (HHIP). In addition to HHIP’s $1.37 million award, OHA will contribute up to $5.4 million in Moving to Work (MTW) rental assistance over the life of the program to offset housing costs, with participating families contributing up to $250 per month toward rent. 

“Housing stability is a fundamental determinant of physical and mental health,” said Alameda Alliance for Health CEO Matthew Woodruff. “We are proud to support this critical pilot program, where Oakland families will have access to a safe place to live, which will ultimately lead to healthier outcomes for our entire community.”

Advancing Long-Term Stability
The pilot program aligns with OHA’s mission to promote civic involvement and economic self-sufficiency among residents while expanding affordable housing options in Oakland. The program seeks to address disparities in housing and healthcare access among low-income families in Alameda County. 

OHA and OAHPI hope to sustain and expand the program beyond the pilot to include unhoused families with children experiencing long-term hospitalizations. For more information about the Building Bridges: Hospital to Home program, email [email protected] with the email subject H2H.