Housing
ARC
Housing
ARC has a track record of providing effective transitional housing services for formerly incarcerated individuals–both adults and transitional-aged-youth returning home to Los Angeles County. Our transitional housing programs provide residents with on-site life skills programming, trauma counseling, education and employment guidance, and live-in mentors to promote independent living and wellness among residents. By providing these services, ARC works to reduce recidivism and improve reentry outcomes among formerly incarcerated individuals returning home to Los Angeles County.
ARC launched its first transitional housing program “Bromont” in September 2014 in Sylmar, California for individuals returning home from incarceration after long sentences of ten plus years or more. Now, ARC currently operates three housing sites in Los Angeles County: Magnolia Youth Transitional Housing Program in Koreatown, Los Angeles;, Lorena Adult Transitional Housing Program in Boyle Heights, Los Angeles;, and the Chaves Ranch Dorm in Atwater Village, Los Angeles.
Magnolia
ARC’s transitional housing program (“THPs”) Magnolia THP, which opened its doors in January 2017, serves residents that are Transitional Aged Youth (“TAY” or “emerging adults”) ages 18 to 25. ARC has worked with, and has provided housing to, young men returning from the Division of Juvenile Justice (“DJJ”) for over seven years. The purpose of the Magnolia Transitional Housing Program is to empower formerly incarcerated youth on their journey to self-discovery by providing a safe and welcoming home, life skills, counseling, employment, career, and academic resources, and opportunities to cultivate independence, integrity, and self-worth using trauma informed, peer, and strengths-based approaches. ARC works with and accepts residential applicants and placements with a wide range of commitment offenses. The program is located within a three-story, private residential building in Koreatown, with capacity to serve 22 TAY residents
Upon entering the Magnolia, each resident is connected to an on-site Case Manager (“Life Coach”) to develop a reentry plan tailored to their specific reentry needs and circumstances. All Case Managers are formerly incarcerated or system impacted individuals who have first-hand experience of the reentry process and can, therefore, provide unique and authentic guidance and support. Case Managers work with residents to create an initial 30-day plan to establish structure and stability as residents work toward long-term success. In addition to 30-day plans, Case Managers assist residents in developing longer-term individual service plans based on their personal goals. Individual service plans are reevaluated and updated every 90 days for the duration of the resident’s time in the program. Weekly check-in meetings with the residents provide the opportunity for Case Managers to measure progress towards goals and address any challenges.
During the first month of residence, Case Managers meet at least twice per week with residents in their caseload and assist them with immediate reentry needs, such as obtaining documentation to pursue school and employment, scheduling counseling appointments, and procuring professional clothing. Upon admission to housing, residents also receive a “welcome home” package with personal hygiene supplies, linens, towels, and other essentials. Many of our members experience PTSD and Post Incarceration Syndrome as a result of justice-system involvement. General anxiety and depression are also conditions that some members frequently experience, so Magnolia THP offers 1:1 individual therapy and clinical services for residents with a full-time therapist on-site. Therapeutic services help many members who experience mild mental health issues address their needs in a trauma-informed and easily accessible environment. ARC also partners with St. John’s Well Child Center to provide other treatments and linkages to medical care for those needing a psychiatric diagnosis and or additional care.
Lorena
In 2021, ARC relocated its THP for adult males and females over the age of 26 from the Bromont THP in Sylmar, to a 36-bed complex located in Boyle Heights, dubbed “Lorena.” Lorena offers wraparound supportive services including on-site intensive case management and support groups, and linkages to ARC programs such as workforce development and clinical therapy, as well as external referrals.
Upon entering ARC housing, each resident is connected to an on-site Case Manager to develop a reentry plan tailored to his or her specific needs. All Case Managers are formerly incarcerated individuals who have first-hand experience of the reentry process and can, therefore, provide unique and authentic guidance and support. Case Managers work with residents to create an initial 30-day plan to establish immediate structure and stability as residents work towards long-term success. During this first month of residence, Case Managers meet at least twice per week with residents and assist them with immediate reentry needs, such as obtaining documentation to pursue school and employment, scheduling counseling appointments, and obtaining professional clothing for job interviews. Residents are required to sign up for medical insurance during their first 30 days in housing, and they are assisted in choosing a nearby primary care physician. Upon admission to housing, residents also receive a “welcome home” package, consisting of personal hygiene supplies, linens, towels, and other essentials.
While living in ARC housing, residents are required to abide by certain rules and requirements. Residents must be enrolled in school and/or employed; attend a minimum of two workshops per week, a weekly housing meeting, and weekly counseling appointments; and follow house rules that ensure the safety and well-being of all residents. Residents who are working must contribute 30 percent of their pay for rent. Half of this total amount is returned to residents when they leave the program to support them in developing savings. Housing-specific requirements are separate from ARC membership requirements, which include, among others, attending one orientation, performing eight hours of volunteer service, attending regular groups, and completing ARC’s Career Readiness Program.
In 2021, ARC relocated its THP for adult males and females over the age of 26 from the Bromont THP in Sylmar, to a 36-bed complex located in Boyle Heights, dubbed “Lorena.” Lorena offers wraparound supportive services including on-site intensive case management and support groups, and linkages to ARC programs such as workforce development and clinical therapy, as well as external referrals.
Upon entering ARC housing, each resident is connected to an on-site Case Manager to develop a reentry plan tailored to his or her specific needs. All Case Managers are formerly incarcerated individuals who have first-hand experience of the reentry process and can, therefore, provide unique and authentic guidance and support. Case Managers work with residents to create an initial 30-day plan to establish immediate structure and stability as residents work towards long-term success. During this first month of residence, Case Managers meet at least twice per week with residents and assist them with immediate reentry needs, such as obtaining documentation to pursue school and employment, scheduling counseling appointments, and obtaining professional clothing for job interviews. Residents are required to sign up for medical insurance during their first 30 days in housing, and they are assisted in choosing a nearby primary care physician. Upon admission to housing, residents also receive a “welcome home” package, consisting of personal hygiene supplies, linens, towels, and other essentials.
While living in ARC housing, residents are required to abide by certain rules and requirements. Residents must be enrolled in school and/or employed; attend a minimum of two workshops per week, a weekly housing meeting, and weekly counseling appointments; and follow house rules that ensure the safety and well-being of all residents. Residents who are working must contribute 30 percent of their pay for rent. Half of this total amount is returned to residents when they leave the program to support them in developing savings. Housing-specific requirements are separate from ARC membership requirements, which include, among others, attending one orientation, performing eight hours of volunteer service, attending regular groups, and completing ARC’s Career Readiness Program.
Hollywood Dorm
In February 2023, ARC opened its doors to the Hollywood CPR Honor’s Dorm, which is open to TAY members enrolled in film curriculum at West LA college. The dorm occasionally houses members outside of its typical age range, but its focus is on housing those who are aged 18-24. The all male dorm is located in Atwater Village in Los Angeles, and holds 8 beds, with hopes of adding up to 16 by the end of 2023. The goal of this program is to help formerly incarcerated individuals reenter society on a pathway to being in a television and/or film production union, all the while preparing them for independent living.
Each dorm resident must be enrolled at the West LA college learning production and grip skills. As part of their curriculum, they are required to complete 600 hours of direct study. To help them focus on their studies, ARC provides dorm residents with a stipend of $2,400 a month. The hope is that this will promote academic success among our residents, giving them the security and stability they need to complete their studies.
Like other transitional housing sites, this dorm provides wraparound services and connects each Member with Life Coaches. They are given the resources they need to become fully realized individuals who are able to function and contribute to society. Their studies are meant to set them up to succeed in the workforce, but Life Coaches and other services provided help Members with their mental health, relationship skills, anger management, overall wellness, and finance literacy. Once their time is completed in this program, the goal is for Members to attain union jobs in film production and be fully thriving members of society.
