PRESS RELEASE

People Assisting The Homeless Opens a New Type of Housing for the Homeless in Hollywood Sept. 22

September 19, 2005

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
(HOLLYWOOD, Calif.) - People Assisting the Homeless (PATH) has opened a new type of emergency housing for the homeless in Hollywood - a 65-bed emergency service/interim housing facility that accelerates access to permanent housing. Grand opening ceremonies are Thursday, September 22 from 10 a.m.-Noon.

The PATH Hollywood Center/Aris Anagnos Residential Center is an innovative "Interim Housing" option that streamlines and expedites the period between a stay at an emergency shelter and actual long-term housing for the chronically homeless. It is located at 5627 Fernwood Ave.

"PATH Hollywood will focus on developing a housing plan for individuals with one or more disabilities who have been homeless for 12 continuous months or experienced homelessness at least four times in the last three years," said Joel Roberts, PATH CEO. "The individualized plan identifies barriers to housing, establishes personal goals for achieving an appropriate housing situation and identifies steps to reach those goals."

The program is linked to PATH's direct street outreach services and will provide a bed and meals, support services and case management to secure permanent housing for chronically homeless men and women. Eligibility for the program will be based on need (homeless living on the street) and safety (not presenting a danger to him/herself or others).

PATH Hollywood is supported by the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority (LAHSA), the City of Los Angeles, Shelter Partnership, the LA County Department of Mental Health and the San Fernando Valley Community Mental Health Center.
PATH, founded in 1984, is a non-profit community agency that seeks to empower homeless people with the tools for self-sufficiency and serves 4,500 people annually with some 17,000 service visits in Southern California. PATH helps homeless people find work, save money, secure housing and empower their lives.

For more information about PATH programs, call PATH (323) 644-2200 or log on to www.epath.org.

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