Dia James was working as a celebrity hairstylist and had no problem paying her bills when the Woolsey Fire swept through parts of Los Angeles County in 2018, burning down the house where she lived as a renter.
Her landlord offered her temporary accommodations in a condo, but when her mother – with whom James’ son had been living – passed away and her son came to live with James, the landlord asked her to leave, she said. For awhile, mother and son were homeless, and James lived in her car until being connected with Hope the Mission, which runs several homeless shelters.
After staying in one of their shelters for two years, James and her son moved into their own apartment again in February. Today, the single mother is an honors student at Pierce College with hopes of transferring to UCLA and, ultimately, to become a psychiatrist, she said.
“Hope the Mission gave me hope,” James said during a ribbon-cutting ceremony Monday, May 15, at the nonprofit’s newest facility, The Woodlands, a family shelter in Woodland Hills that’s slated to open for the first residents to move in around May 31.
James had one message for those who live or work near the new shelter who may be leery: don’t stereotype those experiencing homelessness. “Just continue giving hope to single parents and families,” she said.
The Woodlands will house up to 100 homeless families at the site of the former 818 Hotel and has been embraced by city and county officials as a welcome addition to the neighborhood, as it will help address L.A.’s homelessness crisis while ending illicit activities, such as prostitution, that used to take place at 818 Hotel.
But some nearby residents and business owners remain wary about a homeless shelter moving into the neighborhood, citing concerns that it might attract unwanted congregations outside, and safety concerns because Taft Charter High School sits just across the street.
“It’s a great idea, just the wrong place,” John Walker,…
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