Apartments Offered to AIDS, HIV Patients

The Los Angeles Housing and Community Redevelopment Committee on Wednesday approved using more than $2.6 million to establish a North Hollywood residential facility for people with AIDS and HIV.

“This is not a hospice, but simply a place to live,” said Tom Henry, deputy to Councilman Joel Wachs, whose district includes the proposed site for the residential center. “No medical services will be provided, but there will be a manager living on site who can direct people to the appropriate places for assistance and counseling.”

Henry said the City Council is expected to approve the project within the next two weeks. The residential facility was initially planned for Hollywood, but after that proposal ran into logistical problems the location was changed to North Hollywood.

The money comes from two federal block grant programs, one designed to develop the community and help low-income individuals and the other earmarked for helping people with AIDS and HIV, said Romerol Malveaux, director of the Rent Stabilization and Housing Services Division of the Los Angeles Housing Department.

About $1.5 million will go toward purchasing and improving the property, a vacant 16-unit apartment complex on Cahuenga Boulevard, Malveaux said. The other $1.1 million is for off-site counseling programs and support services.

“The money could be used for a variety of activities other than medical services, such as job training,” Malveaux said. “The goal here is a continuance of care and the improvement of the whole person.”