HOPE Brings New Partners and Strategies to Creating Housing in Norwalk
HOPE on Hayford would not have been possible without strong public and foundation support.
HOPE applauds the City of Norwalk for their leadership in addressing the housing needs of their residents with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD). Currently, there are more than 1,350 Norwalk residents with I/DD who receive Regional Center services. Many of these individuals desire to continue living in this community, but require access to affordable housing to expand their independence and maintain their health. Over the years, the city has been proactive in partnering with HOPE and Harbor Regional Center (HRC) to ensure that these residents have access to safe, stable, and affordable places to call home. HOPE continued this collaboration in 2021 by utilizing Mainstream Vouchers in the city to support people with I/DD and by opening our newest Independent Living Home on Hayford Avenue. HOPE and Harbor Regional Center have a long history of partnering with Norwalk, purchasing our first home in the city on Angell Street in 2006. With the addition of HOPE on Hayford, we now operate eight housing locations in Norwalk, serving 25 people with I/DD. This housing includes single bedroom apartments and shared homes rented out to people making below 60% of the area median income.
HOPE desires to make the public aware of the housing goals and dreams of people with I/DD. However, for too many of these individuals, the unaffordability of the housing market makes pursuing these dreams unrealistic. And for those who have achieved a level of independence, escalating housing costs put this accomplishment at risk. One example of this scenario a Harbor Regional Center client named Veda. Before moving into her HOPE home, she paid more than 50% of her income on rent. It left her far too few resources to pay for her remaining expenses, like healthful foods and transportation. She knew that her rent was too high and that it put her housing at risk. Today, Veda pays no more than 30% of her income on rent and says that while living in her HOPE home, she feels more self-confident and in control of her life.
When people with I/DD lack healthy, stable, and affordable homes, they can find themselves living in substandard housing. Another HOPE resident in Norwalk, Angela, tells us, "Before I moved into my HOPE home, I was living in a trailer. I didn't have any of my basic needs met. But, after moving here, I have everything I need, and I feel safe and finally at home." Angela attests that she now loves living with her housemates, and her favorite indoor activities include cooking, drawing, and creative writing.
We know that people with I/DD live in every Norwalk neighborhood. That is why HOPE implements a small-scale, "Community Integrated" housing strategy that focuses on the acquisition and renovation of single-family homes and small multifamily buildings. Through this approach, we can more easily create housing opportunities in each area of the city. We can also cut down on the extended timelines associated with constructing larger traditional affordable housing projects while avoiding NIMBY (Not in My Backyard) opposition from those who may be, in principle, supporters of the need for affordable housing but do not desire denser apartments to be built in their neighborhoods.
“After moving [to HOPE], I have everything I need, and I feel safe and finally at home.”
To execute our strategy, though, HOPE does require flexible capital sources to create housing options that meet the specialized needs of people with I/DD. Over the years, the City of Norwalk has stepped up and championed our efforts and been a steadfast contributor to creating vital, affordable homes for this population. To date, they have allocated more than $2.3MM of city HOME Investment Partnership funds to support the mission of HOPE, Inc.
Regarding HOPE on Hayford, the City of Norwalk not only contributed $265K in HOME funds but also $50K in Community Development Block Grants (CBDG). Along with city contributions, HOPE is proud to announce that Los Angeles County Supervisor Janice Hahn supported our HOPE on Hayford housing with an additional $100K in County of Los Angeles CBDG resources. Lastly, funding from Rose Hills, Del Harbor, and Union Bank Foundations made this newest affordable home possible.
However, even "affordable" rents by some standards can be unobtainable for people with I/DD living in deep poverty, earning around $1,000 a month in SSI or SSDI. The extreme disconnect between sky-high rents and what individuals with I/DD can pay puts this vulnerable population at risk of homelessness. That is where Mainstream Vouchers, distributed by HUD and administered by local municipalities like Norwalk, can fill the void to assist non-elderly persons with disabilities in accessing and maintaining stable housing. In 2021, HOPE and Norwalk partnered to distribute up to 15 Mainstream Vouchers to help, among others, people with developmental disabilities access affordable housing.
Our success in serving this community would not be possible without community leadership in the Norwalk City Council, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors, and the Norwalk Housing & Neighborhood Development Division. Nida Watkins, City of Norwalk Housing & Neighborhood Development Manager, speaks to the city's stance on this topic. "I know that for myself and city leadership, we want to find solutions to the affordable housing crisis for all of our residents, but especially those most affected by rising rents. We know that people with I/DD are amongst the most negatively impacted by escalating housing expenses. Therefore, we value our partnership with HOPE in addressing this vital need."
HOPE knows that we have a ways to go before we ensure that every Norwalk resident with an I/DD has access to a healthy, stable, and affordable home. But thanks to our donors, City and County leadership, and foundation partners, we continue to make strides towards this goal.
To empower HOPE to continue making progress toward removing housing barriers for people with I/DD, contribute to this vital work today at http://www.hope-homes.org/ways-to-give/donate.
This story was written in acknowledgment of David Nevarez and the Nevarez family who have supported HOPE and its mission throughout the years. We thank them for their commitment to making affordable housing for people with I/DD possible.