wfn.org | UMNS# 262-Church housing effort brings new hope to South Los Angeles

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Church housing effort brings new hope to South Los Angeles

Apr. 28, 2005

NOTE: Photographs are available at http://umns.umc.org.

By Larry R. Hygh Jr.*

LOS ANGELES (UMNS)-New hope is springing forth on a busy intersection in
South Los Angeles.

Faith Community United Methodist Church recently celebrated the grand
opening of Faith Housing New Hope Courtyard Apartments. The church's
housing corporation, along with another Los Angeles non-profit agency,
dedicated 25 new homes to serve low-income individuals and families
living with special needs in South Los Angeles.

"As we continue to make an impact in this community (through building
affordable housing), we can change lives," said the Rev. M. Andrew
Robinson-Gaither, senior pastor of Faith United Methodist Community
Church.

Residents began moving into the new four-story building last August.
Rent is priced at 30 percent of the resident's income. The building
includes laundry facilities, a community room and parking.

Bryon Jackson, a resident of the facility, spoke of his experience of
being homeless.  "We're just one paycheck away from being homeless; in
my case it was three," he said. He lost his job and ended up living in
hotels and shelters and out of his car.

Jackson's journey to Faith Housing New Hope Courtyard Apartments was a
two-year experience. He encouraged the people gathered for the April 6
grand opening to see the new face of homelessness.

"This building is more than bricks and mortar. It represents individuals
who are able to reinvent themselves," he said.

The facility, which cost $4.78 million, is a joint effort of Faith
Housing Corp. and Project New Hope.

The Faith Housing Corp. is a commitment by Faith United Methodist
Community Church to encourage and nurture the building of affordable
housing in Los Angeles. It was established in 1995, as a nonprofit
public benefit corporation for the purpose of using professional and
voluntary assets, government agencies and community businesses to assist
in the development, ownership and management of permanent housing for
families, including those with HIV/AIDS housing needs.

Project New Hope is a nonprofit agency that offers a full range of
services by promoting self-sufficiency, and dignity for individuals and
families living with HIV/AIDS. Services provided by Project New Hope
include independent living, transitional housing, residential care,
skills training, education and substance abuse recovery.

*Hygh is director of communications for the denomination's
California-Pacific Annual Conference, which includes local churches in
Southern California, Hawaii, Guam, and Saipan. He is also a doctoral
student at Pepperdine University.

News media contact: Tim Tanton, Nashville, Tenn., (615) 742-5470 or
newsdesk@umcom.org.

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United Methodist News Service
Photos and stories also available at:
http://umns.umc.org