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Nestled between Downtown Los Angeles, Chinatown, and Lincoln Heights, William Mead Homes is one of the oldest public housing communities in Los Angeles. Constructed in the early 1940s, William Mead Homes has provided affordable housing for low-income Angelenos for decades.

However, at 80 years old, William Mead Homes is physically and functionally obsolete. Coupled with legacy environmental issues and a rapidly changing neighborhood, the Housing Authority of the City of Los Angeles (HACLA) was awarded a Choice Neighborhoods Planning Grant from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development in November 2021. This grant supports a two-year-long, community-informed, planning effort to re-imagine William Mead Homes.

The resulting “Transformation Plan” will outline goals and strategies to carry out the community’s vision for William Mead Homes. Fundamental to this vision is no loss of affordable housing and commitment that William Mead residents will be able to remain in the community post-redevelopment.

  • In November 2021, HACLA applied for and received a $450,000 Choice Neighborhoods Planning Grant from HUD. This grant is being used to support the development of a comprehensive neighborhood “Transformation Plan” that will outline a strategy for the one-for-one replacement of the existing public housing units at William Mead Homes along with greater access to services and programs by William Mead residents and complimentary investments in public services and amenities in the surrounding neighborhood.

  • William Mead residents have many different opportunities to participate in the planning work. In addition to working with the existing William Mead Resident Advisory Council (RAC), HACLA and the planning team are hosting a series of workshops and Backyard Briefings in the William Mead community. At these workshops, William Mead residents are able to share their opinions, preferences, and priorities – all of which will inform the final Transformation Plan. William Mead residents also completed an in-depth survey about services and programs to inform the creation of the People plan.

    For more ways William Mead residents and local stakeholder can get involved, please see the “Get Involved” page.

  • HACLA understands that the possible redevelopment of William Mead Homes can be an uncomfortable thought for residents who are concerned about losing their homes and being displaced.

    To address these concerns, HACLA has made the following commitments to William Mead residents:

    1. Residents will not be permanently displaced

    2. Residents may be relocated temporarily, depending upon the redevelopment plans but those temporary relocations will be on site, wherever possible and/or in an area close by with easy to access amenities.

    3. Residents will be offered a choice of housing which will include a new unit at William Mead, a Section 8 voucher or the possibility of moving to another public housing community if an appropriately sized unit is available

    4. All residents in good standing will have the right to return.

    5. The rent structure of the new units and rent subsidy residents will receive will be similar to what they are currently receiving under public housing.

    6. Residents will continue to have tenant protection provisions in the new leases.

    7. HACLA will continue to own the land and will be actively involved in the long-term operation of any new units.

  • William Mead Homes is a 415-unit family public housing community owned and managed by the Housing Authority of the City of Los Angeles (HACLA). Constructed in 1941 and 1942, William Mead Homes was one of the first public housing communities in Los Angeles. The community is close to the Los Angeles River and Dodgers Stadium, with views of the Downtown LA skyline throughout the property.

    To learn more about William Mead Homes, please visit www.hacla.org/en/about-public-housing

  • Choice Neighborhoods is a competitive grant program of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) that helps public housing authorities and cities develop and/or implement plans to support neighborhoods with aging public housing developments. The program focuses on three core areas – Housing, Neighborhood and People. HUD offers both Planning and Implementation Grants under Choice Neighborhoods; HACLA was awarded a Planning Grant for William Mead Homes.

    To learn more, please visit www.hud.gov/cn

  • The Housing Authority of the City of Los Angeles (HACLA) is one of the nation’s largest public housing authorities, and is the largest provider of affordable housing for residents in the City of Los Angeles.

    As the owner and manager of William Mead Homes, HACLA is responsible for overseeing and managing the planning process. HACLA has brought on a team of experts to support them with this effort, including a master planner, architect, and market analyst.

    To learn more about HACLA, please visit www.hacla.org

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