A new non-profit organization which is partnering with the Catholic church to develop affordable housing in Los Angeles has unveiled its first project.
Our Lady Queen of Angels Housing Alliance has announced plans to develop a 74-unit, 95-bedroom apartment building on a property across the street from Los Angeles City College (LACC) at 4665 Willow Brook Avenue. The property was set aside by the Los Angeles Archdiocese in 2021 for the purpose of developing affordable housing for transition age youth and students at LACC.
4665 Willow Brook AvenueGoogle Street View
“Our goal is to build homes for people and families most at risk of experiencing housing insecurity,” said our Lady Queen of Angeles executive director Amy Anderson. “Our first project is located near LACC, because we plan to serve youth aging out of foster care as well as community college students, who often work full-time while pursuing an education. Too many students are unable to graduate and leverage the benefits of a college education because of financial constraints, and these affordable homes will support them in completing their degrees.”
In 2023, it was estimated that there are nearly 4,000 people between the ages of 18 and 24 who have aged out of the foster care system and had reported being homeless in Los Angeles County. Likewise, more than half of community college students in L.A. County have reported housing insecurity, according to a May 2024 study.
Plans call for a mix of studio, one-, and two-bedroom apartments, as well as amenities such as laundry facilities, a community room, a wellness center, study rooms, and outdoor space. Renderings depict the project as a contemporary six-story edifice.
4665 Willow Brook AvenueGoogle Maps
The project, currently in predevelopment, is one of several which the Catholic Church and Our Lady Queen of the Angeles intend to build. Future developments are expected to focus on groups including essential workers, seniors, and families.
The proposed development sits one block to the southwest of Metro's Vermont/Santa Monica Station, where construction is now wrapping up for another affordable and supportive housing development - a 187-unit apartment complex from Little Tokyo Service Center.
The Willow Brook represents a growing number of affordable housing developments being build on land owned by religious institutions. Such projects can be fast tracked after the approval of SB 4 in 2023.
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- East Hollywood (Urbanize LA)
Looking for affordable housing? Visit lahousing.lacity.org/aahr and housing.lacounty.gov
