Los Angeles Unified and Many Mansions Celebrate Grand Opening of New Permanent Housing in Sun Valley (03-25-24)

Sun King Apartments models community partnership to provide permanent homes and life-saving supportive services to families transitioning out of homelessness

 

Los Angeles, CA (March 25, 2024) – Today, Los Angeles Unified and nonprofit developer Many Mansions announced the grand opening of Sun King Apartments, an affordable, permanent supportive housing project that serves chronically homeless individuals and families. Community members, partner organizations and civic leaders from across Los Angeles came together to celebrate the grand opening of the complex.

 

In an area where a large percentage of families with school-age children have faced homelessness at some point in their lives, this development is significant.

 

“Los Angeles Unified is committed to addressing the housing crisis for our families and finding ways to secure affordable, safe and protective permanent homes for our students,” Superintendent Alberto M. Carvalho said. “Students experiencing homelessness face a much steeper challenge in pursuing academic achievement because of the additional barriers they must overcome. We are steadfast in our resolve to mitigate those challenges, leverage our partnerships and resources to create opportunities like Sun King Apartments and provide critical services to support our students and families.”

 

Sun King Apartments is a beautifully designed 25-apartment permanent supportive housing complex to provide homes for chronically homeless households. All residential units come fully furnished in this LEED-silver certified complex. The site is strategically located, offering residents convenient access to public transit and freeways, and is within a half-mile radius of essential amenities such as a hospital clinic, pharmacy and multiple Los Angeles Unified schools.

 

“Our first night at home was one of safety and security; one which we haven’t had in years,” Sun King resident Anica Rubang said. “We have started a new chapter in life! Now we can create a safe and stable home for our daughter, Faith.”

 

Many Mansions, in collaboration with Los Angeles Unified and Housing Works, brings critically-needed housing and supportive services to families with school-age children. Sun King Apartments provides a nurturing environment for families as they transition out of homelessness. Residents will have access to a range of accessible supportive services to enable them regain personal stability and thrive long-term, including comprehensive case management, youth programs and after-school support, connections to health care services, education and employment resources, life skills training, and more.

 

“Today is a day of celebration and joy as we officially welcome 25 formerly homeless families home,” President & CEO of Many Mansions Rick Schroeder said. “With a roof over their heads and a door they can close, they can begin the process of healing, regaining personal stability, and ultimately, thriving. Many Mansions is grateful to all our partners who made it possible for us to build the kind of housing we know is effective in ending homelessness for individuals and families. We know from our deep experience in developing supportive housing that Sun King Apartments will play an impactful role in the lives of our residents for years to come."

 

At a time when more than 75,000 people are experiencing homelessness on any given night across LA County, Sun King brings critically-needed housing and supportive services. With an additional focus on programs for children and teen residents, the intent is to close educational achievement gaps for those who have experienced homelessness by achieving a sense of safety and support.

 

“The grand opening of the Sun King apartments is a testament of the cross-government collaboration of those here today as we ensure that every child whether in this district and the great Los Angeles area are housed,” said Congressman Cárdenas. “But our work is far from over. As we celebrate this milestone, let us also recommit ourselves to the ongoing fight against homelessness and housing insecurity.”

  

“Today’s grand opening of the Sun King Apartments is a testament to the work we are doing to alleviate the housing crisis in the 6th District," said Councilmember Padilla. “As a longtime resident of Sun Valley, I have worked hard to bring resources and support to our communities so that our communities have an equal opportunity to thrive. Today, I am particularly proud to be able to help bring supportive, permanent housing to the Valley that is so thoughtfully and beautifully designed with the vision to end homelessness.”

 

Los Angeles is demonstrating the power of sustained investment in neighbors and communities. By unlocking millions of dollars of state and federal funds, Proposition HHH will create a planned 10,519 new homes with life-saving supportive services by 2026, including a planned 8,596 new homes financed directly by HHH.

 

“We want to extend a huge heartfelt thank you to the nonprofit Many Mansions for providing housing for some of our Los Angeles Unified families who have been struggling with homelessness,” Board President Jackie Goldberg said. “We know how important it is for students to have safety and shelter before they can fully participate in school.”

 

“The development of supportive housing that primarily considers our District students and families is a step in the right direction as communities across Los Angeles struggle with their housing needs,” Board Vice President Scott M. Schmerelson said. “Our students must feel secure with permanent housing if they are to develop well socially, emotionally, and academically. If we are serious about combatting homelessness, we must address the root cause: unaffordability.”

 

“Housing stability and affordability is one of the drivers in public school enrollment and attendance,” Board Member George J. McKenna III said. “I am proud of the District for taking action to create housing for families in need.”

 

“Housing insecurity affects so many of our students and families that it requires the coordination of all levels of government, non-profit groups, labor unions, and the private sector,” Board Member Dr. Rocío Rivas said. “This development is one step among many that we must take to address this crisis.”

 

“Housing affordability is the most fundamental challenge facing our region right now, and an obstacle that hinders student learning,” Board Member Nick Melvoin said. “With this innovative Many Mansions partnership, LA Unified continues its work to provide the social safety net that our students need to thrive in school and beyond, and we do so with great enthusiasm. This is not the first project, and it’s a priority of mine to ensure that it will not be the last project to support families and employees with housing as the district continues to look at our underutilized land and find other ways to ensure that Angelenos have safe and stable homes.”

 

“Every family deserves a safe place to call home,” Board Member Kelly Gonez said. “The Sun King Apartments represent an innovative, problem-solving approach that I hope our school district can support in more places in the East Valley and across Los Angeles. As we witness the impact of this collaboration, I am filled with hope for the students and families of Sun Valley.”

 

“I am deeply grateful for this partnership that will provide some of our district families with permanent supportive housing,” Board Member Tanya Ortiz Franklin said. “It is vital for us to continue to collaborate in support of families across our district to do what we can for our students and families to have a stable place to call home.”

 

Download photos of the Sun King grand opening event here.

 

For the most up-to-date information, please follow Los Angeles Unified on X/Twitter at @laschools and @lausdsup, Instagram at @laschools and @lausdsup and Facebook at @laschools and @AlbertoMCarvalho1 and Many Mansions @manymansionsnonprofit

 

Many Mansions is a premier provider of affordable housing and services in Southern California, responding to the acute need for housing and expanding into Los Angeles. Its proven model of housing coupled with intensive, on-site programs and services has demonstrated success, with 95% of residents remaining stably housed. Many Mansions currently provides housing and services to over 1,700 individuals with a focus on working families in the extremely and very low-income brackets, seniors, veterans, persons with disabilities, and individuals and families who have experienced homelessness. Learn more at manymansions.org.

 

About Sun King Apartments:

• Unit Mix

  • 12 One Bedroom Units (450SF)

  • 11 Two Bedroom Units (700SF)

  • 3 Three Bedroom Units (900SF)

• Designed by Lorcan O'Herlihy Architects

• Construction by Walton Construction with Primus Building Solutions providing construction management

• Population

  • Homeless and chronically homeless individuals and families

  • 30% AMI for all 25 units

  • HUD Section 8 Project Based Vouchers for all 25 units

• Multiple community partners came together to develop Sun King Apartments.

  • CIT / First Citizens Bank – Construction and Permanent Financing

  • California Debt Limit Allocation Committee (CDLAC) Tax Exempt Bonds

  • California Tax Credit Allocation Committee (CTCAC) 4% LIHTC

  • Merritt Community Capital Corporation/LIHTC Equity Partner

  • Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) – Multifamily Housing Program (MHP) and Supportive Housing Multifamily Housing Program (SHMHP)

  • Los Angeles Housing Department/Proposition HHH Program Funds

  • Housing Authority of the City of Los Angeles (HACLA) – Project Based Vouchers

  • Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority (LAHSA)

  • Housing Works, the lead SPA 2 service provider

  • Los Angeles County Department of Health Services (DHS) – Measure H funding

 

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