Supervisor Janice Hahn joined Linc Housing, Jovenes, Inc., and other partners and supporters to celebrate the grand opening of The Nook, a vibrant 27-unit supportive housing community serving transition age youth, 18- to 24-years old.

Linc worked closely with the County of Los Angeles to create The Nook, one of the few supportive housing communities in the county specifically for young adults who have experienced homelessness. The new building, located at 14433 Leffingwell Road in South Whittier, addresses the demand for additional affordable housing in the neighborhood, while giving new life and energy to a former library site. Jovenes, Linc’s nonprofit services partner, is providing intensive case management and support for the residents.

“Homelessness is devastating for a young person and too often prevents them from pursuing an education or working to build the future they want and deserve,” said Hahn. “Every young person who moves into these apartments isn’t just getting a roof over their head. They are getting a support system, access to mental healthcare, and a community of peers that understands what they have gone through. Everyone who moves in here will be able to finally take a breath, worry less about where they are going to sleep at night, and focus more on what they need to do to build the future they want for themselves.”

Los Angeles Community Development Authority Executive Director Emilio Salas added, “The Nook represents a commitment from the County and our partners at Linc Housing to support youth transitioning into adulthood, in need of stable housing. The attention to detail and services provided onsite will help provide the tools for residents to thrive in their new home and we are very proud to be a part of this development.”

The new community, with a modern building design that blends well into the neighborhood, has 26 one-bedroom homes and a two-bedroom manager’s unit. The complex features a computer lab, community room, patio, second floor roof deck, a community kitchen, and easy access to the new library just around the corner. The community spaces are conducive to group educational experiences and trainings. As is its usual practice, Linc also incorporated sustainable construction and design features. Energy- and water-efficient measures not only help the environment but also decrease residents’ future utility costs, freeing up income for other necessities.

“In 2020, there were 4,600 young adults who were homeless in Los Angeles County,” said Suny Lay Chang, president and COO, Linc Housing. “There’s a tremendous need for housing and services for these young adults, many of whom haven’t had the family supports necessary for the successful transition from youth to adulthood. The Nook is their foundation for building a life of their dreams.”

Changing lives requires significant, long-term investment into each individual. With funding support from Housing for Health/Los Angeles County Department of Health Services and Los Angeles Department of Mental Health, Jovenes provides individualized case management services focused on supporting residents in their personal development. Jovenes also provides referrals and support for issues related to mental and physical health as well as substance abuse and legal needs. The nonprofit surrounds clients with supportive services and resources to enhance the effectiveness of affordable housing. The services aim to help them find jobs, further their education, manage their finances, develop personal relationships, and boost their self-esteem.

“We are so excited to welcome all the new residents to The Nook,” said Andrea Marchetti, executive director, Jovenes, Inc. “Creating housing opportunities for youth who have experienced homelessness is a critical task, and Jovenes is committed to ensuring that residents receive the individualized supportive care they need to leave homelessness behind and achieve their goals. The Nook offers these resilient youth with the opportunity they need to recover from trauma and embark on a new chapter in their lives.”

More than 50 percent of the residents are moved in, and they’re already well on their way to building a community of support. All apartments are filled through referrals from the County of Los Angeles Coordinated Entry System (CES).

Funding for the development comes from a variety of sources including construction and permanent loans from Capital One, $3.9 million in No Place Like Home funds from the Los Angeles County Development Authority on behalf of the Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health, and tax credit equity from Raymond James. The County of Los Angeles provided a permit fee waiver and ground lease for the site. The California Endowment and LISC Los Angeles provided predevelopment support. The Nook was designed by Van Tilburg, Banvard & Soderbergh, and it was built by Walton Construction Inc.

About Linc Housing Corporation
Linc Housing, one of California’s most productive nonprofit developers of affordable housing, is committed to building communities and strengthening neighborhoods for people underserved by the marketplace. Linc has helped create more than 9,000 homes in 90 communities throughout the state. The organization’s properties are known for excellent design, outstanding management and life-enhancing services for its residents. Linc has 38 years of service to families, seniors, people with special needs, and local governments – helping to create sustainable communities via new construction, acquisition and rehabilitation, and historic preservation. Visit https://www.Linchousing.org for more information.

About Jovenes
Jovenes (which translates to ‘youth’ in Spanish) was founded in 1989 on the core belief that every person deserves not only the right to safe housing, but also the opportunity to build a successful future. Jovenes provides a complete continuum of care that moves homeless youth and college students off the streets and into their own apartments. Jovenes is a regional leader in Southeast LA County, with the capacity to house over 350 youth on any given night and partnerships with local colleges and universities to address the crisis of student homelessness. Jovenes’ mission is to provide opportunities for homeless youth so that they can become active and integrated members of our community. For more information, please visit https://www.jovenesinc.org.