HACLA

New Year''s Day

Fri, 05 Dec 2008 00:18:31 GMT

New Year's Day
Start Date: 1-Jan-10 8:30 AM
End Time: 1-Jan-10 5:30 PM
Speaker:

New Year''s Eve (offices closed)

Thu, 04 Dec 2008 22:18:01 GMT

New Year's Eve (offices closed)
Start Date: 31-Dec-09 8:30 AM
End Time: 31-Dec-09 5:30 PM
Speaker:

Christmas Day (offices closed)

Fri, 05 Dec 2008 00:17:20 GMT

Christmas Day (offices closed)
Start Date: 25-Dec-09 8:30 AM
End Time: 25-Dec-09 5:30 PM
Speaker:

Christmas Eve (offices closed)

Fri, 05 Dec 2008 00:16:55 GMT

Christmas Eve (offices closed)
Start Date: 24-Dec-09 8:30 AM
End Time: 24-Dec-09 5:30 PM
Speaker:

Day After Thanksgiving (offices closed)

Fri, 05 Dec 2008 00:16:27 GMT

Day After Thanksgiving (offices closed)
Start Date: 27-Nov-09 8:30 AM
End Time: 27-Nov-09 5:30 PM
Speaker:

Thanksgiving Day (offices closed)

Fri, 05 Dec 2008 00:15:50 GMT

Thanksgiving Day (offices closed)
Start Date: 26-Nov-09 8:30 AM
End Time: 26-Nov-09 5:30 PM
Speaker:

Veteran''s Day (offices closed)

Fri, 05 Dec 2008 00:15:01 GMT

Veteran's Day (offices closed)
Start Date: 11-Nov-09 8:30 AM
End Time: 11-Nov-09 5:30 PM
Speaker:

Labor Day (offices closed)

Thu, 04 Dec 2008 23:14:16 GMT

Labor Day (offices closed)
Start Date: 7-Sep-09 8:30 AM
End Time: 7-Sep-09 5:30 PM
Speaker:

Independence Day (offices closed)

Thu, 04 Dec 2008 23:12:35 GMT

Independence Day (offices closed)
Start Date: 3-Jul-09 8:30 AM
End Time: 3-Jul-09 5:30 PM
Speaker:

Memorial Day (offices closed)

Thu, 04 Dec 2008 23:11:46 GMT

Memorial Day (offices closed)
Start Date: 25-May-09 8:30 AM
End Time: 25-May-09 5:30 PM
Speaker:

Scholarships for High School Seniors Living in Public or Assisted Housing

Thu, 06 Nov 2008 22:00:00 GMT

HACLA is pleased to announce that Public Housing Authorities Directors Association (PHADA) is accepting applications for scholarships for high school students living in public or assisted housing. HACLA encourages all students who qualify to apply for these scholarships. This is a great opportunity to relieve the financial burdens associated with college tuition, books and other activities related to college education.

To encourage academic excellence and community responsibility among high school students, Public Housing Authorities Directors Association (PHADA) has implemented a scholarship program for graduating seniors who are preparing to enter college. In 2009, PHADA will proudly award the following three scholarships to deserving high school seniors residing in public and assisted housing:

• Bollinger Scholarship - $7000.00
(Named for Stephen J. Bollinger, one of PHADA’s founding Members and former HUD Assistant Secretary in the early 1980’s.)
• HD Supply Scholarship - $5000.00
• Freedom Scholarship - $5000.00

The links to the application brochure and the form are below:
2009 Scholarship Application Information and Requirement Checklist

2009 Scholarship Application

For information on the scholarship and how to apply, visit the PHADA website.

HACLA looks forward to receiving your applications and wishes you success!

6-Nov-08 2:00 PM

Scheme to Sell Fraudulent Section 8 Vouchers Exposed: Police Arrest Three Suspects

Fri, 29 Aug 2008 07:00:00 GMT

Aug. 29, 2008

Los Angeles -- This morning, Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) Rampart Division detectives arrested three people for operating a confidence scheme to sell fraudulent Section 8 housing vouchers. The arrests were part of a joint operation involving LAPD and the Housing Authority of the City of Los Angeles (HACLA).

The scam, which was advertised on the Internet at the Craigslist website, promised Section 8 vouchers to renters in exchange for a cash payment of $2,500. Victims were instructed to call a phone number and were then interviewed by someone posing as a HACLA official. Later, if the victim agreed, the “official” would arrange a meeting that was often staged at or near a HACLA facility.

During the meeting, the suspect(s) would show the victim an authentic-looking HACLA identification card and provide a document resembling a Section 8 receipt or voucher in exchange for $2,500. After the transaction, the suspect would vanish and change the listed telephone number. If the victim couldn’t provide the entire $2,500 in one payment, the scheme would continue until all partial payments were made, after which the phone number would be disconnected.

Potential victims may have been quite vulnerable to the scheme because genuine Section 8 vouchers are very much in demand and valuable, enabling those with low-incomes to rent housing for rates far below current market levels.

To date, at least five of these crimes are known to have been committed, with one of the five occurring in Inglewood. Detectives believe the suspects could be responsible for many more similar crimes because their scheme was advertised on the Internet. Anyone who believes he/she has been a victim or has information about other potential victims, is asked to call LAPD Rampart Detective Division at 213-484-3450. After hours and on weekends, calls may be directed to a 24-hour, toll-free number at 1-877-LAW-FULL (529-3855).

29-Aug-08 0:00 AM

Council to Vote on Gang Prevention Contracts

Fri, 15 Aug 2008 15:30:00 GMT

Aug. 15, 2008 -- Six organizations that work to keep youths in high- crime areas out of gangs are expected to receive one-year contracts today as part of the reorganization of the city's anti-gang programs.

The recommendations for the one-year $500,000 contracts for each organization will be considered by the Los Angeles City Council. The contractors were selected by panels made up of law enforcement officers, gang experts and community members.

The recommended contractors are:

Community Build in the Baldwin Village area;
Childrens Hospital Los Angeles in Cypress Park;
Los Angeles Metropolitan Churches in the Florence-Graham area;
People Coordinated Services in the Newton area;
El Nido Family Centers in Pacoima; and
Violence Intervention Program in Ramona Gardens.

Community Build and Childrens Hospital Los Angeles were previously awarded contracts through L.A. Bridges, the anti-gang city initiative that will end at the end of the year. On July 1, Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa assumed control of the city's anti-gang strategy.

City officials plan to award six additional contracts for prevention services and 12 contracts for intervention work later this fall.

The goals of the one-year programs are to prevent children ages 10 to 15 from joining gangs, and reducing the level of association with gang members.

Each program must work with at least 100 youths who are most at risk of joining a gang.

Providers are required to have a minimum of three face-to-face meetings with the children every week and at least one monthly visit with the parents.

The six risk factors that increase a child's chances of joining a gang are a lack of parental supervision; early childhood aggression; delinquent beliefs, including acceptance of antisocial behaviors; negative life events; having peers involved in deviant behavior; and a commitment to street-oriented peers.

15-Aug-08 8:30 AM

Racial harmony on display at Watts basketball tournament

Thu, 17 Jul 2008 22:00:00 GMT

July 17, 2008

The gym in the Nickerson Gardens housing project can be an unfriendly place for anyone who dares to enter without a tough, competitive game of basketball.

Just ask the Latino players from East Wilmington who, in May, for the first time, drove 15 miles to Watts to join the project's Moonlight basketball league. When they walked on the court, they were greeted with a chorus of taunts, and someone in the crowd issued a blunt warning: "You better not bring any weak stuff in here!"

The 12 young men didn't flinch; they knew they would have to prove themselves if they wanted respect in a tournament dominated by African Americans.

They were shorter than the players on the other top teams, and not quite as fast. Still, they were every bit as tenacious, and at times a little cocky. They had grown up together, were confident in one another's games and knew that when all else failed, they could rely on their star player: Joey Saavedra, a 24-year-old sharpshooter and former Banning High School superstar who dropped out of sight four years ago after being convicted of attempted armed robbery.

Joey was back and ready to make a difference.

With the 6-footer leading the way, East Wilmington, one of four Latino teams participating in the 12-team tournament, began winning games and gaining the respect of the players and admiration of the fans.

"This is good for the community," said Donny Joubert, who runs the Moonlight league, an offshoot of midnight basketball programs established in the early '90s to reduce gang violence. "This is not just an African American gym."

From the first tip-off of the tournament, all eyes were on Saavedra.

"He is a one-man show," said Coach Manuel Panduro. "But he also makes everybody else on his team play better."

Those in the stands noted Saavedra's cross-over dribble, his moves and his shooting accuracy.

"He plays with a lot of soul," said Hank Henderson, a recreation assistant at Nickerson Gardens. "Joey is gifted. He can shake and bake, drop back and hit a three-pointer or make a move like Michael Jordan."

In one dramatic finish, Saavedra knocked a ball out of the hands of an opposing player, ran down the court to catch a pass and laid the ball in the basket as the buzzer went off ending the game.

The stands emptied and a celebration broke out on the court. But then the referees denied the basket, declaring that the shot came too late, just after the buzzer. Saavedra's team won in overtime.

It was that way at Banning High, where the young player rose to fame, averaging just under 32 points a game. Once, after a 44-point burst, including 10 three-pointers, an opposing coach compared Saavedra's offensive talents to Inglewood High School graduate Paul Pierce, who, as a professional this year, led the Boston Celtics to the NBA championship.

Sam Turks, a 32-year-old point guard on the Compton squad who played high school ball with Pierce, agreed. He said he was aware of Saavedra's reputation by the time he had to cover him.

"I was told he could shoot and not to leave him open," Turks said. "They didn't tell me that I could have two hands in his face and he could still knock it down."

At Los Angeles Harbor College, Coach Tony Carter-Loza had high expectations for Saavedra when he started playing for the team in 2003. The Seahawks were off to a better start than in previous seasons, but then Carter-Loza received a call during the winter break. Saavedra had been arrested in a car with two other men and charged with attempted robbery.

"He doesn't seem to want to leave the guys he grew up with," Carter-Loza said. "There's nothing wrong with that. But as time goes on everyone, sooner or later, moves in different directions."

Saavedra sees that chapter in his life as a big mistake. "It was a dumb thing to do," he said. "We didn't need the money."

At the California Correctional Institution in Tehachapi, where he finished his 18-month sentence, Saavedra recalls serving his time in a holding cell. "There was nothing to do," he recalled. "I keep it in my past. There was time to wash clothes, take baths and try to keep busy. It was all a sign from God. It opened my eyes."

In August 2005, to celebrate his release from prison -- and to keep him closer to home -- Saavedra's family paved over the backyard and built a basketball court. He returned to the sport he loved.

At Nickerson Gardens, Joubert said he has heard similar stories.

"We have a lot of kids who get caught up in the life," he said. "The goal is to get them back on track, go to work, go back to school and do something positive in their lives."

East Wilmington wasn't an obvious entry in the Nickerson Gardens tournament. Some of the players were reluctant to face teams that bore some familiar names: the Compton All-Stars, Fremont, Imperial Courts, Nickerson Gardens.

"Are you serious?" Freddie Lopez, East Wilmington's 6-foot-3 center, asked his coach. "We're not going to play in Nickerson Gardens. That's in the middle of Watts."

But Joubert said the tournament established a "safe zone" around the recreation center, bringing in community members as a private security team -- the same force recently enlisted to provide help at the 109th Street Pool, which was shut down one Sunday last month after a band of young men took it over.

In addition, Joubert arranged to have an L.A. Police Department patrol car stationed outside the center.

After a few games, Joubert received a call from one of the coaches of the Latino teams.

"They felt so comfortable with the tournament that they wanted to know if it was OK to bring their families to the games," he recalled. "I said, 'Sure, bring them!' Then, suddenly, the mothers and the little kids were here."

Saavedra said the tournament helped his self-confidence.

"You have a lot of guys who say, 'If you can play here, you can play anywhere,' " Saavedra said. "To hear that can only make me better. I want to play against the best. I'm 24. I don't want to look back at my life and have any regrets. I want to say at least I gave it a shot."

The East Wilmington players made it to the semifinals but failed to make it to the finals of the tournament. They were beaten by Compton, which lost to Fremont.

But the men from East Wilmington made their mark. At tonight's awards banquet at the Nickerson Gardens recreation center they will all be recognized.

And Joey Saavedra will get the award for Most Valuable Player.

By John L. Mitchell, Los Angeles Times Staff Writer

john.mitchell@latimes.com

17-Jul-08 3:00 PM

A Struggle to Get Housing in Order -The L.A. agency's chief has discovered millions of dollars unaccounted for and thousands of residents unserved.

Sun, 21 Oct 2007 07:00:00 GMT

Oct. 21, 2007 -- When Rudolf Montiel came from El Paso three years ago to clean up the Housing Authority of the City of Los Angeles, he didn't know enough to be daunted. It didn't take long, however, for him to get a sense of the challenges ahead. Precious vouchers for the poor and disabled seemed to be for sale on the black market, allowing hundreds of newly arrived immigrants to jump to the top of a 10-year waiting list for housing subsidies. A consultant looking into the problem found "a virtual feeding frenzy in which corruption, manipulation and fraud is strongly evident."

That was hardly the only disturbing discovery: Employees in one department appeared to be stealing, issuing themselves checks and then erasing the evidence. Millions of dollars set aside for rehabilitating a Watts housing project seemed to be missing. Parts of some housing projects had been commandeered by gangs to sell drugs, run brothels and hold dogfights.

Fresh from success building a nationally recognized housing authority in his hometown of El Paso, Montiel felt as though he'd entered a mysterious foreign culture, "like I was in the Kremlin, and I wasn't Russian."

Three years later, he still is struggling to bring order and ethics to an agency in which bad management and corruption have been endemic for at least 30 years. Yet, even as he has trumpeted his reform efforts, new controversies have emerged on his watch.

In interviews, Montiel, 46, laid bare details of many agency woes for the first time, at times wishing aloud for an exorcist and comparing his job to fighting a multiheaded hydra.

To date, Montiel said, he's spent $7 million on private eyes, auditors and lawyers -- mostly lawyers. He's referred some staff for prosecution, sued some for damages and outsourced the work of a whole department.

There have been setbacks. Earlier this year, a Times review of internal documents showed that a former manager had directed nearly $800,000 in contracts to his brothers and politically connected firms without competitive bidding or after rigged contests. He allegedly overpaid for the work as well, doling out nearly $2,500 apiece to install toilets in housing projects. The manager, who was fired, has denied wrongdoing and a criminal investigation is ongoing.

Not long afterward, Montiel fired his chief investigator, the very person he had appointed to get to the bottom of such misdeeds. In a lawsuit, his administration accused the sleuth of engaging in a delusional witch hunt. The agency has been racked by interpersonal and racial tension, absenteeism and resentment over Montiel's aggressive management style. Employees have complained of a jarring transition and a "rush to justice," saying that Montiel and his deputies "seem bent on getting rid of people," according to a 2007 consultant's report.

Given the troubles he inherited, some advocates for the poor, as well as city and federal officials, applaud Montiel for making remarkable strides. Donna White, a spokeswoman at the federal Housing and Urban Development department, said the director has put an agency that was on the brink of a federal takeover on solid ground.

Even so, the ongoing turmoil is a distraction from the agency's already formidable mission -- providing for the housing needs of more than 120,000 of Los Angeles' poor and disabled.

Because of funding limitations, five times as many people qualify for help as can be accommodated. Tens of thousands such as Eleanor Colon have been waiting years for subsidies to help them get off the streets or out of homeless shelters. "I don't see why they have to take so long to get people off the waiting list," said Colon, a 28-year-old single mother who applied nine years ago for subsidized housing. Now her "kids are half grown." "When I needed it most, why wasn't it there?"

Some officials said they find it appalling that this critical agency was allowed to fall into such disrepair. "It's horrifying," Councilwoman Janice Hahn said of the agency's troubles. "These [clients] are residents of the city of Los Angeles, and they deserve a lot better."

An orphan agency

For a bureaucracy of its size and reach, the Housing Authority in Los Angeles has historically received relatively little attention, from the public or the government.

It is the largest housing authority west of the Mississippi, with 8,000 public housing units extending from San Pedro to the San Fernando Valley. It also manages 44,500 Section 8 vouchers, federal subsidies paid to private landlords to cover rent for the poor.

Run by a commission appointed by Los Angeles' mayor, the agency receives the vast majority of its $850 million annual budget from the federal government.

But it is more or less an orphan: Most city officials have not involved themselves deeply in its operations, and U.S. officials have offered only sporadic scrutiny. Problems date back decades. Three of the last four executive directors left after inquiries involving alleged misappropriation of funds or improper contracting.

Montiel arrived after the top leader and his second in command departed in quick succession.

Director Don Smith took early retirement in 2004 after the agency gave out thousands more housing subsidies than it was authorized to provide. After HUD refused to cover the extra subsidies, the agency told 1,500 poor people they couldn't use their vouchers after all. An audit later found that the authority had $30 million on hand that would have been more than enough to cover the vouchers.

After Smith left, his second in command, Lucille Loyce, was fired. A federal audit had found that public-housing tenant organizations, which she oversaw, paid more than $2.1 million in no-bid contracts to a consultant, Duane Williams, who was her longtime friend. He performed ineffectually, the audit said.

In a pending lawsuit against the pair, the authority makes other startling allegations, including that Williams insisted that members of tenant boards undergo expensive dental work at agency expense, then he and Loyce blackmailed them into keeping quiet about other misconduct.

Loyce has said she did nothing wrong and that she was fired because of race and sex discrimination, according to court papers. Williams did not respond to repeated requests for comment.

HUD referred the matter to the U.S. attorney's office, which declined to prosecute after investigators found no evidence that Williams paid Loyce kickbacks.

Then-Mayor James K. Hahn's office brokered a deal with federal officials to hire Montiel, who had their confidence, averting the embarrassment of federal receivership.

Suspicions are raised

Although perennially late for appointments, Montiel has polished manners, reflecting an Old World courtliness and charm. He is a practicing Catholic who prays before meals, frequently refers to himself as "blessed" and ends conversations with the sign-off "Peace." He said he came to Los Angeles feeling "honored and humbled."

He also brought an unshakable confidence in his abilities and a national profile as a housing leader, carefully nurtured during frequent trips to Washington, D.C., and other cities.

Almost immediately, Montiel, who makes $225,000 a year, sensed trouble. Simple requests for information about, for example, the number of people receiving Section 8 vouchers, took days. And the answers he did get were incomplete.

His suspicions were heightened when he and federal officials noticed that a large group of newly arrived immigrants -- ineligible by U.S. law for housing subsidies -- had vaulted to the top of the Section 8 waiting list and had been issued vouchers in what appeared to be an organized scheme. The situation remains under investigation, he said.

Montiel said he began receiving anonymous letters, warning that he was looking into things he shouldn't and that he ought not go to housing projects alone. "You never know what might happen to you," he recalled one missive saying.

Montiel tends toward dark humor when describing the threats, but they clearly shook him. Even three years later, he won't say where he lives with his wife and son.

Nevertheless, he said, he was not deterred. Nor has he hesitated to cast himself as the public face of the agency: The lobby of its headquarters is decorated with 10 large photographs of Montiel with Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, other public officials and smiling children.

He has drawn praise from some quarters for his perseverance in trying to smoke out problems. What Montiel discovered "flabbergasted" and "appalled" the commissioners who oversee the agency, recalled Eleanor Williams, a former board president.

"I couldn't believe that this very important agency helping the neediest people in our city was having so many problems," she said.

Montiel, too, was initially taken aback by what he found.

In the agency's information technology department, some employees had been cutting themselves checks, but there was no way to tell how many. Evidence had been purged from office computers.

There were signs, however, that it was not a small problem: One high-level staffer resigned under pressure after allegedly cutting himself a check for $7,600. At the end of 2005, the post office returned hundreds of 1099 income tax forms as undeliverable, suggesting that hundreds of thousands of dollars may have been diverted to staffers using false names, Montiel said.

At the Jordan Downs housing project in Watts, paperwork was such a mess that it was impossible to say where millions in rehabilitation funds went, whether they were lost to incompetence or misappropriated.

In the Section 8 department, Montiel said he discovered that more than 50 employees had a potential conflict of interest: They owned dwellings approved for subsidies, and thus were collecting rent money from the program their department oversaw.

Meanwhile, the waiting list for Section 8 subsidies stood at about 90,000 families.

Implementing new rules

Montiel dug in, confident he could turn the agency around. As instructed by HUD, he halted the distribution of vouchers for two years until the legitimacy of the Section 8 waiting list could be verified. He pushed through new rules prohibiting employees from owning property in the Section 8 program or doing business with the authority. Private investigators were dispatched to follow suspect staffers. Forensic auditors were hired to pore over paperwork. Then, this summer, Montiel fired his own chief investigator, Abel Ruiz. Ruiz told reporters he was targeted because he was pushing too hard in the investigation of alleged bid-rigging that had been spotlighted by The Times. Not so, agency officials shot back in a lawsuit, which stated that Ruiz was fired because he had inappropriately started investigating Montiel's distant relatives and a sitting councilman.

In this charged atmosphere, some staffers say morale suffered. One employee, who spoke on condition of anonymity, saying he feared retaliation, dismissed Montiel as a bad leader who "came in like a whirlwind" and made people "scared for their jobs."

21-Oct-07 0:00 AM

A Season of Hope at Mar Vista Gardens

noemail@hacla.org — Mon, 22 Dec 2008 18:45:00 GMT

December 20, 2008 - Hundreds of children received early gifts from Santa Claus on Saturday at the Mar Vista Housing Development. Congresswoman Maxine Waters, District 11 Councilman Bill Rosendahl, and President and CEO of the Housing Authority, Rudolf C. Montiel, were on hand to help pass out gifts. The gifts were donated by HACLA, the City Fire Department and private citizens. The residents of the development have more to celebrate during this season of hope - their mail service was restored thanks to a new mail carrier. Mail carrier, Quy Co, who also goes by "Charlie", officially started his new route on Saturday. Charlie said he is glad to help out the neighborhood and looks forward to building a strong relationship with the Mar Vista Community.

New mail carrier "Charlie" Co presented with Thank You cards and a cake. Congresswoman Waters feeds Charlie the first bite of the cake.

Congresswoman Maxine Waters, Councilman Bill Rosendahl and HACLA President Rudolf Montiel get ready to pass out gifts.

Santa Claus Surprises Children at William Mead

noemail@hacla.org — Tue, 16 Dec 2008 20:00:00 GMT

December 15, 2008 – The children at William Mead housing development started their Christmas celebrations early this year. Los Angeles City Councilman Ed Reyes organized a Christmas party for children ages 0-12. Children and their families took pictures with the Councilman, Santa Claus and Mrs. Claus. Councilman’s staff passed out gifts on behalf of Santa Claus. The party wouldn’t have been complete without the petting zoo and the jumpers. Children got to sit on Santa's lap and tell him their wishes and hopes For the seventh year, Councilman Ed Reyes brought smiles to childrens faces at William Mead Housing Development by bringing some special guests; Santa Claus and Mrs. Claus came bearing gifts The rain didn't stop children from enjoying the outdoor petting zoo.

HACLA Thanks Employees for Years of Service

noemail@hacla.org — Tue, 16 Dec 2008 19:00:00 GMT

December 15, 2008 – The HACLA held a presentation and luncheon in honor of its employees to recognize their dedication and years of service. Employee Service Recognition Awards were presented to 138 employees with 35, 30, 25, 20, 15 and 10 years of service. Thank you for choosing HACLA as your second family. We admire your loyalty and support to the agency throughout all these years. Congratulations to every one of you and thank you for your invaluable service to HACLA! HACLA President Rudolf C. Montiel, PE welcomes Patrice McConnell, Acting Human Resources Director the employees. announces the awardees. Kenneth Hamilton and Edgardo Nevarez Nancy Wesoff, Asset Management Director and were recognized for 35 years of service. senior staff congratulate the employees. Mr. Montiel and Commissioner Garr congratulate the Housing Management Director Sanford Riggs was employees. ...

Housing Authority and L.A. County Probation Department Award Scholarships to At-Risk Youth

noemail@hacla.org — Mon, 15 Dec 2008 18:00:00 GMT

HACLA President and CEO Rudolf C. Montiel, PE with scholarship recipients December 12, 2008, Los Angeles – The Housing Authority of the City of Los Angeles (HACLA) and the Los Angeles County Probation Department awards scholarships to 16 high school seniors facing economic and social hardships, giving them an opportunity to seek higher education. The students, who live in public housing developments, received scholarships from $800 - $2,000. The students are participants of the Housing Based Day Supervision Program (HBDSP). The HBDSP is an intervention program designed to reduce youth gang participation and other antisocial behavior through comprehensive case management services, well-structured leadership development, educational empowerment, recreational, organizational sports and cultural activities for youth ages 8-18 at four HACLA public housing development sites: Imperial Courts, Jordan Downs, Ramona Gardens and San Fernando Gardens. The innovative program combines a Deputy...

HACLA Receives Recognition for Efforts to End Homelessness

noemail@hacla.org — Tue, 09 Dec 2008 20:00:00 GMT

December 9, 2008, Los Angeles – The Housing Authority of the City of Los Angeles was recognized by Los Angeles County Supervisor Gloria Molina for its ardent efforts to decrease homelessness in Los Angles through the Los Angeles County Skid Row Demonstration Project. The HACLA has issued 228 housing vouchers to homeless families and individuals helping nearly 700 children and 300 adults get off skid row into permanent housing. In support of the Mayor’s efforts to serve the homeless people in Los Angeles, and HACLA's commitment to be part of the solution to end homelessness, HACLA contributed 300 vouchers for the Skid Row Families Demonstration Project designed to move homeless families with children away from Skid Row into permanent housing. Several organizations took part in the project including Beyond Shelter. After working in this field for over 30 years, to be able to partner with Los Angeles County and HACLA has been an incredible experience because only with that kind of...

Jordan Downs CAC Holds First Public Meeting

noemail@hacla.org — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 21:00:00 GMT

Watts, November 22, 2008 - Jordan Downs Community Advisory Committee (JD CAC) held its first public meeting with the residents of Jordan Downs at the JD Recreation Center. The recreation center was filled with residents who were eager to learn about the redevelopment project. The CAC members talked in detail about the master plan and their trips to public housing sites that have gone through redevelopment. Jasper Williams from the Mayor’s office, Charlotte Brimmer from the CRA, LAPD Captain III Phillip Tingirides, Janet Clark from LAUSD, Maxine Water’s Employment Preparation office, Eric Brown from Councilwoman Hahn’s office and other community representatives attended the meeting. Also present were HACLA Board of Commissioners Margarita C. Garr and Lucelia Hooper, a large number of HACLA staff, including President and CEO Rudolf C. Montiel. As HACLA moves forward with the redevelopment process, JD CAC will regularly hold public meetings to brief the residents on the...

HACLA Responds to Southland Fires

noemail@hacla.org — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 23:00:00 GMT

Hundreds of families have been devastated by the recent Southland fires. More than 600 mobile homes were destroyed at the Oakridge Mobile Home park in Sylmar. HACLA staff set up an information booth at the evacuation center located at Sylmar High School to assist fire victims.

Scholarships for High School Seniors Living in Public or Assisted Housing

noemail@hacla.org — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 22:00:00 GMT

HACLA is pleased to announce that Public Housing Authorities Directors Association (PHADA) is accepting applications for scholarships for high school students living in public or assisted housing. HACLA encourages all students who qualify to apply for these scholarships. This is a great opportunity to relieve the financial burdens associated with college tuition, books and other activities related to college education. To encourage academic excellence and community responsibility among high school students, Public Housing Authorities Directors Association (PHADA) has implemented a scholarship program for graduating seniors who are preparing to enter college. In 2009, PHADA will award the following three scholarships to deserving high school seniors residing in public and assisted housing: Bollinger Scholarship - $7000.00 (Named for Stephen J. Bollinger, one of PHADA’s founding Members and former HUD Assistant Secretary in the early 1980’s.) HD Supply Scholarship -...

New Dana Strand Phase II Construction Completed

noemail@hacla.org — Mon, 20 Oct 2008 22:00:00 GMT

On October 16, 2008, there was a Grand Opening Dedication for the newly constructed New Dana Strand Phase II for 116 townhome units and a community center. Commissioners Beatriz Stotzer and Lucelia Hooper attended the ceremony on behalf of the Housing Authority. Originally, Dana Strand Village was built in 1942 as war-time housing. After the war in 1954, the Housing Authority acquired the property for public housing. In 2001, HACLA received a HOPE VI Demolition Grant and proceeded to redevelop the site in four phases: Phase I - 120 rental units; Phase II - 116 rental units; Phase III - 100 senior units; and Phase IV - 77 single family units. The Phase II development features 116 two, three and four bedroom townhome units. The computer learning center, two children playgrounds and outdoor patio furniture are great additions for the community. Dana Strand developments provide on-site resident programs such as dance classes, teen programs and field trips. The Lifelong Learning...

House Passes Community Partnership to End Homeless Act

noemail@hacla.org — Thu, 02 Oct 2008 18:00:00 GMT

On October 2 the U.S. HUD Secretary Steve Preston issued a statement in regards to the House passage of H.R. 7221. The bill had an overwhelming support and passed with a vote of 355-61. Below is the statement as it appears on HUD Website.

“I would like to commend the House of Representatives for its passage of H.R. 7221, the Community Partnership to End Homelessness Act. This important piece of legislation will consolidate HUD’s competitive homeless assistance programs, and will make it immeasurably easier for local housing and service providers to access and use our funding.

“This bipartisan bill will allow local communities more flexibility to support programs that actually prevent homelessness. It is also a vital part of the Administration’s effort to continue providing critically needed housing and services to those who are literally living on our nation’s streets and in our shelters. I urge the Senate to pass these important reforms quickly.”

To learn more about HR 7221 and read the text of the bill visit the Library of Congress.

Plasterer

Wed, 10 Dec 2008 08:00:00 GMT

Title: Plasterer Description: SALARY RANGE: Hourly $25.97 (Flat Rate) Annually $54, 017 Plus excellent benefits package, including 2.7% @ 55 PERS Retirement, employee contributes. FINAL FILING DATE: Friday, January 16, 2009 at 4:30 p.m., NO POSTMARKS ACCEPTED (Please submit a copy of Journeyman Plasterer License or Certificate along with the application) PRINCIPAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES: Under general supervision, performs journey level plastering work on new construction, alterations, or repairs of dwelling units or other structures. The employee receives assignments from the supervisor, who defines objectives, priorities, and deadlines, and assists the employee with unusual situations that do not have clear precedents. Removes old plaster and prepares surfaces for plastering. Masks work area with plastic; applies scratch, brown, and finish coats of plaster, lath and stucco to walls and ceilings; smoothes corners and angles. Uses hand tools,...

Locksmith

Wed, 10 Dec 2008 08:00:00 GMT

Title: Locksmith Description: SALARY RANGE: Hourly $27.82 (Flat Rate) Annually $57,865.60 Plus excellent benefits package, including 2.7% @ 55 PERS Retirement, employee contributes. FINAL FILING DATE: Application and a copy of current locksmith license will be accepted until 4:30 PM, Friday, January 16, 2009, NO POSTMARKS ACCEPTED. ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS: Performs skilled, journey-level work in the repair and installation of locks and the cutting and coding of keys. Maintains an agency-wide master key system, records all lock and key changes, and responds to requests for services from Housing Authority residents and employees. Performs repairs on the tests locks; performs maintenance on locks as necessary. Cuts, codes and copies keys; records all lock and key repairs and changes. Maintains master key system for Housing Authority, consisting of approximately 50,000 locks; estimates needs for locks and keys and orders blank locks and keys; orders hardware and related...

Owner Orientation Sessions

Tue, 06 Jan 2009 00:24:53 GMT

Every month Section 8 schedules three owner orientation sessions for new & prospective, (& sometimes existing) Section 8 Owners. Upcoming sessions are scheduled as follows: Dates: Tuesday, January 13, 2009 Thursday, January 22, 2009 Saturday, January 31, 2009 Location: 2600 Wilshire Blvd, 5th Floor Board Room Time: 10:00 A.M. - 12:30 P.M. Registration: All property owners & landlords interested in attending MUST pre-register by calling (213) 252-1253. Parking: Saturday attendees can park in the building parking garage. This is for Saturday sessions only. The attendees must use the public parking lots or metered parking on the street for the weekday sessions.

Property Listings

Sat, 03 Jan 2009 01:40:30 GMT

For your convenience Section 8 Property Listing is posted on HACLA's website and is updated weekly. Information is provided by owners/landlords. The Housing Authority does not guarantee the accuracy of the units listed. These units are not pre-approved and any unit that you select will be required to pass an inspection. Please contact the owners/landlords for further information on these units. View by number of Bedrooms 0-1 Bedrooms 2 Bedrooms 3 Bedrooms 4+ Bedrooms Accessible Units If you would like to list a property please fill out the Property Listing Form and fax it to (213) 252-4231, or mail to: HACLA Property Listing, 2600 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90057. Additional Resources for Affordable, Special Needs and Emergency Housing LA County Housing Resource Center provides a searchable registry of rental units with maps and pictures of properties. Property providers can list their properties on the website. The services are free to both residents and...

Executive Staff

Mon, 29 Dec 2008 19:46:01 GMT

Ken Simmons John R. King II, Director Chief Operating Officer Planning and Intergovernmental Affairs Department Larry Goins, Director Nancy Wesoff, Director Development Department Asset Management Lourdes Castro Ramirez, Director Sanford Riggs, Director Section 8 Housing Assistance Programs Housing Services Richard Carroll, Acting Director Patrice McConnell, Acting Director Internal Control Human Resources

Owner Newsletter

Mon, 22 Dec 2008 22:40:16 GMT

January 2009

December 2008

November 2008

October 2008

September 2008

August 2008

July 2008

Construction Goods and Services

Fri, 19 Dec 2008 23:42:11 GMT

Invitation For Bid (IFB) No. 1659: The Restoration and Repair of Four (4) Fire Damaged Units at Avalon Gardens Housing Development Volume 1 of 2 (Part 1) Volume 1 of 2 (Part 2) Volume 2 of 2 (Part 1) Volume 2 of 2 (Part 2) The Housing Authority of the City of Los Angeles (HACLA) invites vendors to submit firm fixed price bids for the restoration and repair of four (4) fire damaged units located at 701 E. 88th St., Los Angeles, CA 90002 Contractor shall furnish all labor, material equipment and services required for the total restoration and repair of four (4) fire damaged units. The work consists primarily of the interior restoration and repair of a (1) two-bedroom unit, (1) one-bedroom unit and (2) three-bedroom units. The full and complete Scope of Work and Specifications are set forth in Volume 2 of the IFB. A pre-bid conference to investigate the project site and review technical documents will be held at 701 E. 88th Street, Los Angeles, CA 90002 on January 5th and...

Professional Services

Fri, 19 Dec 2008 22:58:37 GMT

Request for Proposals (RFP) No. 7512: Electronic Document Management System (EDMS) Description: The Housing Authority of the City of Los Angeles (HACLA) invites proposal from qualified firms interested in providing: Software product(s) that address HACLA requirements for an Electronic Document Management System (EDMS); and Implementation and support services; and Back-file conversion services. HACLA is interested in procuring the above mentioned three items as a combined package. The contract award is for an initial one (1) year period with four (4), one-year options to renew at the sole discretion of HACLA. A pre-proposal conference to discuss the RFP and answer questions will be held at 2:00pm, January 6, 2009 in HACLA’s 5th Floor Board of Commissioners’ meeting room at 2600 Wilshire Boulevard. Issue Date Due Date/Time Type of Solicitation Contact Information 12/19/08 02/05/09 Request for Proposal Swan Lam 2:00...

Videos

Thu, 11 Dec 2008 18:16:18 GMT

Click on the links below to view HACLA produced videos and information about each event.

HACLA Receives Recognition for Efforts to End Homelessness

HACLA Responds to Southland Fires

Housing American Poster and Essay Contest

Board of Commissioners

Wed, 10 Dec 2008 01:18:43 GMT

The Housing Authority is governed by a seven-member Board of Commissioners (the Board) that is responsible for policy, fiscal management and the appointment of the President and Chief Executive Officer. Five Commissioners serve four-year terms. Two Commissioners, who serve two-year terms must be residents of the Authority's housing projects. There is no limit on the number of terms a Commissioner may serve. Currently HACLA board has 5 commissioners. Beatriz O. Stotzer Maria Del Angel Chairperson Vice Chairperson Date of Appointment: 01/25/06 Date of Appointment: 07/28/98 Rayman Mathoda Margarita C. Garr Commissioner Commissioner Date of Appointment: 06/21/06 Date of Appointment: 05/21/08 Alicia Maldonado Lucelia Hooper ...

Commissioner Lucelia Hooper

Wed, 10 Dec 2008 01:16:20 GMT

Commissioner Lucelia Hooper has been a resident of Nickerson Gardens for thirty-two years. Her public service career spans over 20 years, most notably, at Nickerson Gardens Resident Management Corporation where she served as a Recording Secretary eventually being nominated to President of the management corporation. Since 1989 she has been involved in a variety of programs at the site, including the management and operation of the Food Bank, Youth Council mentor, Nickerson Gardens Safe Passage Program for Markham Middle School. She also served as the President of Nickerson Gardens Block Captains Program.

Commissioner Hooper’s dedication and commitment to better her community led her to her involvement with the Watts Gang Taskforce. Since 2004, she has served as the Vice President of the taskforce and works with Councilwoman Janice Hahn’s office to decrease area’s gang violence and improve the safety of residents. She is active in the church and volunteers her time and skills in a range of events and programs. Ms. Hooper also participates in the Partnership for Schools with the City of Los Angeles, Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa’s initiative to improve student performance and achievement records.

A native of Mississippi, Commissioner Hooper is the mother of four children, grandmother of seven and great-grandmother of three.

Homeless Initiatives

Tue, 09 Dec 2008 00:48:29 GMT

HACLA is proud of its efforts to provide shelter and permanent affordable housing for homeless individuals and families while ensuring them access to supportive services to maintain independent living. Under the leadership of it’s current President & CEO Rudy Montiel HACLA has contributed 745 project-based vouchers or operating subsidy amounting to almost $75 million to the City’s Permanent Supportive Housing, which is an initiative created by Mayor Villaraigosa with commitment from the LA Housing Department, the Community Redevelopment Agency, the Department of Water and Power, LA Homeless Services Authority and HACLA. Moreover, under the leadership of Mr. Montiel HACLA has almost doubled the number of units dedicated to homeless (see the chart below). HACLA has been a key partner in several local demonstration efforts including the Skid Row Families Demonstration Program, a joint collaboration with the County, City and Beyond Shelter to move 300 families into...

Lorem ipsum survey

noemail@hacla.org — Wed, 08 Aug 2007 23:54:35 GMT

Objectives:

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit, sed diem nonummynibh euismod tincidunt ut lacreet dolore magna aliguam erat volutpat. Ut wisis enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exerci tution ullamcorper suscipit lobortis nisl ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis te feugifacilisi.

Duis autem dolor in hendrerit in vulputate velit esse molestie consequat, vel illum dolore eu feugiat nulla facilisis at vero eros et accumsan et iusto odio dignissim qui blandit praesent luptatum zzril delenit au gue duis dolore te feugat nulla facilisi.

Ut wisi enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exerci taion ullamcorper suscipit lobortis nisl ut aliquip ex en commodo consequat. Duis te feugifacilisi per suscipit lobortis nisl ut aliquip ex en commodo consequat.Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit, sed diem nonummy nibh euismod tincidunt ut lacreet dolore magna aliguam erat volutpat.

Ut wisis enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exerci

Release Date: 8-Aug-07 4:54 PM
Expiration Date: 8-Nov-07 4:54 PM

Ut wisis enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exerci

Lorem ipsum

2007-08-08T23:54:35Z

Instructor: Instructor

Lorem ipsum