About

ABOUT

Single Room Occupancy (SRO) Housing Corporation

SRO Housing Corporation is a non-profit, community-based organization, dedicated to building a vibrant community for homeless and very low-income individuals in the Central City East Community of downtown Los Angeles, more commonly known as “Skid Row”.

SRO Housing’s vision of a thriving urban community of hope and opportunity extends to all aspects of its work. It is committed to restoring a sense of dignity, civility, and respect to a population that has been habitually ignored and forgotten. It provides a full continuum of housing (emergency, transitional, and permanent) in conjunction with a wide array of supportive services including food services, case management, information and referrals, transportation, community events, and more. With over 27 years of experience, SRO Housing Corporation has a unique insight into the needs of the community it serves. SRO’s diverse and multi-cultural staff are made up of formerly homeless individuals, residents, and community members whose history and life experiences are a source of inspiration. SRO Housing works diligently to continually meet and grow with the need of the community it serves, year after year.

SRO Housing Corporation is much more than a housing developer, it is a Community Builder.

Mission

SRO Housing Corporation is dedicated to building a vibrant community for homeless and low-income individuals. We pursue our mission of community revitalization by providing clean, safe, and affordable housing; managing public spaces; and administering needed supportive services.

History

The Central City East area of downtown Los Angeles, also known as “Skid Row”, is home to one of the largest populations of transient (homeless) persons in the entire United States. In the late 1970’s, James M. Wood, who served as the Chairman of the Community Redevelopment Agency of the City of Los Angeles, formed a conviction that any plan to revitalize downtown Los Angeles must include the redevelopment of the Central City East (Skid Row) area to address the area’s dire housing conditions.

Skid Row, which encompasses approximately 50 square blocks within the boundaries of 3rd and 7th Streets and Main and Alameda Streets, is one of the most impoverished neighborhoods in the Western United States. Skid Row residents, whether homeless or housed, are often poor, elderly, disabled, mentally ill, addicted to drugs/alcohol, chronically ill, and/or unemployed.

In 1977, after years of litigation, the City of Los Angeles finally adopted a redevelopment plan for the downtown Los Angeles Central City East area to preserve the single-room-occupancy hotels in the area. In pursuit of that plan, Single Room Occupancy (SRO) Housing Corporation was founded in February 1984 by the Community Redevelopment Agency to acquire and rehabilitate single room occupancy hotels in the area. Since 1984, SRO Housing Corporation has pursued its mission of community revitalization by providing clean, safe and affordable housing, managing public spaces, and administering needed social support services.

Awards

2011 Enterprise Community Partners - Community Partner of the Year
2011 Southern California Association of Non Profit Housing - Developer of the Year
2006 XCEL Award - Case Management Organization of the Year
2006 AIACC - Community Housing Assistance Honor Award
2006 Southern California Institute of Non Profit Housing Affordable Housing Award- Non Profit Developer of the Year
2005 The Downtown Breakfast Club Rose Award, the Yankee Apartments
2005 Los Angeles Fashion and Business District Business Improvement Award, The Yankee Hotel
2004 BusinessWeek Architectural Record Award, James M. Wood Community Center
2004 The Enterprise Social Investment Corporation - ESIC Premier Partner