LOS ANGELES, CA (March 12, 2012) – Serene Haven, Inc., a 501c3 non-profit organization that acquires and renovates residential facilities to provide safe housing to homeless military veterans and their families, has acquired a property located at 2501 West 54th Street (middle right map) in Los Angeles.
This is the third LA-area, multi-unit residential facility the organization has acquired to house veterans in just under two years, according to Matthew J. Heslin (top right photo), Co-Founder and Chairman of Serene Haven, Inc., and partner in Heslin Becker Properties.
“Serene Haven renovates these properties and provides a secure and comfortable transitional living environment for our military heroes,” said Heslin.
“Housing is a major issue in the fight to eradicate homelessness amongst veterans, as most accommodations made available to physically disabled veterans are improper and sub-standard. At Serene Haven, our mindset is ‘if we won’t live there, we won’t allow a veteran to live there.’”
Heslin says the problem of homelessness among veterans is growing in Los Angeles.
“There are more than 20,000 homeless veterans in LA County alone, and with the winding down of the Iraq war, it is estimated that an additional 14,000 military heroes may be facing homelessness in the very near future,” commented Heslin.
“We are always seeking companies and organizations that will donate funding for additional properties, critical services for these at-risk heroes, or obsolete properties we can revitalize.”
Critical services, which include supportive programs such as mental health counseling, physical therapy, drug and alcohol rehabilitation, and job placement services, are available to all veterans who reside at Serene Haven facilities, according to Heslin. The organization also provides property redevelopment services and transportation via shuttle service to veterans.
Serene Haven’s newly acquired property is made up of 15 apartment units situated on eight retail spaces below, and will become a field office for the non-profit organization.
“The mixed-use makeup of this newest Serene Haven facility is unique, and will allow our organization to provide on-site opportunities for job placement and job training to assist our veterans,” said Heslin. “The Serene Haven team will work tirelessly over the coming months to remodel this property and make it a safe, clean, and supportive community for these at-risk military veterans.”
In addition, Serene Haven owns and operates residential facilities at 4416 Arlington Ave. (middle left map) and 2608 Ridgeley Drive (lower right map) in Los Angeles. These properties have been completely remodeled and are fully occupied by veterans and their families. Funding for the first two properties was provided by Heslin.
“Serene Haven is planning at least one more acquisition in 2012, and we will continue to seek opportunities to create safe, transitional housing. We are humbled by the opportunity to serve these men and women who have sacrificed so much for the safety of our country,” said Heslin.
Serene Haven Inc. is a 501c3 non-profit organization that acquires and renovates residential facilities to provide safe, low-cost housing to homeless military veterans and their families. Each Serene Haven facility is self-sustaining, and all revenues net of expenses are applied to the acquisition and development of additional transitional housing to take veterans directly off the streets of Southern California.
Contact:
Jenn Quader / Judith Brower
Brower, Miller & Cole
(949) 955-7940
