Ending Homelessness With Permanent Supportive Housing

Adoris, U.S. Army Veteran and former Lockheed Martin welder, struggled with the lasting effects of post-traumatic stress disorder and turned to alcohol to cope. His journey eventually led to homelessness, hopelessness, and uncertainty about where to turn next. That changed when he found A Community of Friends (ACOF). After years of homelessness, Adoris moved into an ACOF apartment community and began rebuilding his life. “A Community of Friends came along and lifted me up and put me back on my feet, made me feel like a human again,” he says. “Now I can get up in the morning and do positive things.”

Since 1988, ACOF has led the way in Permanent Supportive Housing in Southern California. ACOF’s vision has always been to establish a community where individuals experiencing homelessness could find a supportive network and feel as if they were living amongst friends. 

ACOF’s focus on the intersection of mental health and housing has remained constant over the past 38 years. Pioneers of the Permanent Supportive Housing (PSH) model, ACOF works primarily in Los Angeles County and has expanded into Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, and Ventura counties. Its properties are designed to foster community and stability for a diverse range of tenants including seniors, veterans, families, and young adults leaving foster care. With 54 apartment communities serving more than 3,500 tenants, plus six projects in the pipeline that will provide housing for another 380 households in Los Angeles, ACOF continues to grow its impact.

“The stability of an affordable long-term home, paired with supportive services onsite, is the cornerstone of Permanent Supportive Housing,” says Dora Leong Gallo, ACOF’s President and CEO. “We know from decades of experience that Permanent Supportive Housing works.”

The Ripple Effect of Community

ACOF tenants have a stable home base, a community of staff and neighbors who help them rebuild their lives after homelessness, and access to crucial support services including case management, workforce development, healthy living, substance use recovery, and family and children’s services.

The Avila family, ACOF tenants since 2017, love participating in ACOF’s Family and Children’s Services program. Parents Ana and Juan tell us how they appreciate having a safe and engaging space for their children to focus on schoolwork and explore creative projects.

Diamante moved into his ACOF apartment in 2018. “I was either going to spiral, or I was going to save myself,” he recalls. With ACOF’s support, Diamante is now back on his feet, working in a job he loves.

The need is overwhelming. In Los Angeles County alone, there are roughly 73,000 people experiencing homelessness. At least a quarter of them live with a serious mental illness. Permanent Supportive Housing is a smart and efficient solution that has stood the test of time. Your support means that Adoris, Diamante, the Avila family, and thousands of current and future ACOF tenants can break the cycle of homelessness and realize their dreams.