Hope Gardens Family Center Opens
After a long, costly political battle with Kagel Canyon residents who didnt want a homeless center in their vicinity, Hope Gardens Family Center has finally opened its doors. Covarrubias 20” w/photos (hernandez)Nine mothers and their 15 children, as well as 24 elderly women, hike, walk and play under the oak, pine and redwood trees in the foothills in an unincorporated area east of Lake View Terrace. Up until two weeks ago, all of them lived at the Union Rescue Mission in downtowns skid row. For Los Angeles public officials and social service agencies, the 720-acre property, with its koi pond and alpine lodge, marks an important step in a larger effort to decentralize homeless services away from downtown. Although the city and county have allocated more than $329 million to establish five regional homeless centers throughout the county, none has opened, mostly because of community opposition.
