Congresswoman Sydney Kamlager-Dove secured back-to-back grants just in time for back-to-school by providing funds to revitalize economic empowerment and improve public housing in South Los Angeles.
One of the funding amounts of $510,000 was presented to the Housing Authority of the City of Los Angeles (HACLA) at a back-to-school event for its Avalon Gardens Cool Roofs Project. The project is one of 15 community projects that Kamlager-Dove secured a total of $12.4 million through Fiscal Year 2024 government funding legislation, of which $6.4 million will be used to build and improve hundreds of public and affordable housing units in Los Angeles. The funding secured by the congresswoman will cover the replacement of the deteriorating roofs at Avalon Gardens, one of two public housing sites within the 37 District, with advanced cool roofs. As Los Angeles faces increasingly severe heat waves, residents of public housing— who are often low-income, senior, people of color, and those with chronic health conditions— are particularly vulnerable.
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Many of the public housing sites in Los Angeles were built before central air conditioning was common, making it incredibly expensive to install now. Installing new cool roofs, which can keep buildings up to 60 degrees cooler, will significantly improve the quality of life for Avalon Garden residents.
“With Los Angeles on the front lines of the climate crisis, we must do everything in our power to advance environmental justice and protect our most vulnerable communities,” said Kamlager-Dove.
“I was proud to secure this vital funding to make much-needed improvements to the Avalon Gardens public housing site, keeping residents safe and cool during the sweltering summer months. Alleviating housing insecurity in Los Angeles requires a whole-of-government approach, and I will continue to leverage my role in Congress to support our city and county partners— like HACLA— to enhance the overall well-being of our community.”
“Today’s funding announcement made possible by U.S. Congresswoman Kamlager-Dove supports Los Angeles’ continued leadership to revitalize public and affordable housing units in Los Angeles,” said Mayor Karen Bass.
“This transformative investment of $510,000 will improve Avalon Gardens’ infrastructure with advanced cool roofs that will impact residents during these hot summer months when risks of heat exposure increase. As Mayor of Los Angeles, I will continue to lock arms with partners on all levels to address the burden of our shared climate crisis.”
Kamlager-Dove also presented a $500,000 check to the Vermont Slauson Economic Development Corporation (VSEDC) on the same day for its Slauson Neighborhood Revitalization Project.
The Slauson Neighborhood Revitalization Project will revitalize the Vermont Slauson Shopping Center, a 10-acre, 175,000 square foot commercial center located in South Los Angeles that serves approximately 250,000 people living in the area. The improved center will create 150 additional jobs, help existing small businesses grow, and expand VSEDC’s capacity to provide entrepreneurship training in South LA.
“I am thrilled to have secured this funding to make much-needed infrastructure improvements to the Vermont Slauson Shopping Center, a cherished resource in our South LA community,” said Kamlager-Dove.
“The Slauson Neighborhood Revitalization Project will help preserve and protect South LA’s identity while increasing access to jobs and driving business in our local economy. VSEDC is a trusted and valued partner in uplifting our community through economic development, and I look forward to seeing how this funding will be used to transform the lives of local entrepreneurs, small businesses, and everyday Angelenos.”
“This critical funding brings us one step closer to improving the infrastructure and beautification of a major economic engine in South LA,” said VSEDC President/CEO Quentin Strode.
“With support from allies like Congresswoman Kamlager-Dove, our investment helps businesses thrive so that they can provide an exceptional level of service that South LA residents deserve.”
VSEDC was founded to inspire economic development and provide access to capital for underserved areas in South LA. Today, VSEDC provides core resources and tools to assist small business owners and entrepreneurs in South LA and beyond.
HACLA is one of the nation’s largest and leading public housing authorities, providing affordable housing to over 83,000 households in its Public Housing and Section 8 rental assistance programs and offering a range of permanent supportive housing programs for homeless families.
For more information, visit www.hacla.org.
