Kamlager-Dove Delivers $510,000 to Improve Public Housing, Install Cool Roofs at Avalon Gardens
LOS ANGELES, CA — Today, Congresswoman Sydney Kamlager-Dove (CA-37) joined the Housing Authority of the City of Los Angeles (HACLA) at a back-to-school event to present HACLA with a $510,000 check for its Avalon Gardens Cool Roofs Project. The project is one of 15 community projects that Congresswoman 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 Congresswoman Kamlager-Dove 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. 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 Congresswoman 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.”
“HACLA is incredibly grateful to Congresswoman Kamlager-Dove for her advocacy and unwavering commitment to our communities,” said Margarita Lares, Chief Programs Officer at HACLA. “The impacts of global warming have hit some of our most vulnerable communities the hardest and this investment in Avalon Gardens will go a long way to improving their quality of life.”
ABOUT THE HOUSING AUTHORITY OF THE CITY OF LOS ANGELES (HACLA)
The Housing Authority of the City of Los Angeles (HACLA) was established in 1938 by City of Los Angeles Resolution No. 1241. HACLA is one of the nation’s largest and leading public housing authorities, providing the largest supply of quality affordable housing to City of Los Angeles residents. HACLA provides affordable housing to over 83,000 households in its Public Housing and Section 8 rental assistance programs and offers a range of permanent supportive housing programs for homeless families, including Project-Based, HUD – Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing, Homeless, Tenant-Based Supportive Housing, Housing Opportunities for Persons with Aids (HOPWA), Continuum of Care and Moderate Rehabilitation Single Room Occupancy program. For more information, visit www.hacla.org.
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