BACKGROUND

This case study illustrates how TCC-funded affordable housing has enabled Watts residents to move into more comfortable, upgraded homes while paying similar rent and staying in the neighborhood they love. The story features Lorena Gutierrez and Anita Rodriguez, two residents who moved from older affordable housing into SKY @ Jordan Downs, a new building built using TCC dollars. To learn more about Watts Rising’s plan to mitigate displacement and affordable housing investments, see pages 48 and 53, respectively, of this report.

Interviews for this story were conducted in May 2024 and September 2024.

Story and original post by UCLA Luskin Center for Innovation: https://innovation.luskin.ucla.edu/sky-jordan-downs-helps-watts-residents-improve-and-stabilize-their-housing/

LORENA GUTIERREZ was excited that her move to SKY @ Jordan Downs was only a short distance from her prior home. After 17 years of living in Watts, Gutierrez enjoys a strong social network in the neighborhood. “I like living in Watts because of the existing relationships I have built here,” she said. “The community is great.” When she heard about the new TCC-funded housing units at SKY, Gutierrez knew her family would enjoy a brand new building in a neighborhood they already liked, surrounded by amenities.

Gutierrez and her three adult children moved into the building in November 2023. If she had not gotten this new apartment in the neighborhood where she already had roots, Gutierrez said she likely would have moved to another neighborhood. Beyond the ability to stay in her neighborhood, Gutierrez gained several benefits by moving into SKY. Her apartment — a 3-bedroom, 2-bathroom unit — is larger, newer, and more relaxing than her prior home in a nearby public housing unit.

While the new building is in the same neighborhood, Gutierrez noted improvements in the location, including less violence and more walkability. With more cost-effective grocery stores nearby, Gutierrez says she has saved money living at SKY. Gutierrez does not own a car — she takes public transportation most places she goes, and while she hopes for additional bus stops near her building, she can take the bus to shop for groceries.

Gutierrez doesn’t only live at the new building — she works as a community liaison for the residents of her building within the larger Jordan Downs community. SKY is one of the newest of many buildings at Jordan Downs, and each is represented by liaisons like Gutierrez. She started the position about six months before moving into her new apartment, and she works to represent her neighbors’ concerns and wishes on topics like crime, safety, and community events

Even though Gutierrez is pleased with her apartment at at SKY, she hopes to eventually own her own place. Gutierrez credits the money she’s saving at SKY as helpful in advancing toward that goal.

ANITA RODRIGUEZ has also lived in Watts for 17 years and enjoys the community the neighborhood provides. Her children have all moved out, and she just moved into a 1-bedroom apartment at SKY. As someone who enjoys having her personal space, the unit at SKY has provided her ample room to spread out — even having switched from two bedrooms in her prior apartment to one. “I like my large room and living room. For myself only, it’s more comfortable having one bedroom. It’s a large unit,” she noted.

Living at SKY provides several quality of life upgrades for Rodriguez. In particular, the location is more comfortable for her as a public transit user — with no car, she takes the bus everywhere, from grocery shopping to doctor appointments. She has noticed that the surroundings are cleaner than her old street, she feels safe walking near the building, and she can access all of the essentials by bus within a reasonable distance.

SKY provides residents with another change as well: the building has all-electric appliances. This climate- and health-friendly measure steps toward reducing use of methane gas in homes, which is unhealthy for residents due to the fumes they release. At first, Rodriguez saw this as a cost: she initially saw high electric bills as a result. But the electricity cost was offset by having no gas bills, and she soon noticed her overall energy bill had decreased from over $100 to closer to $30 per month. She attributes the drop to living alone.

Rodriguez has a strong community in Watts — but she would likely have moved away to live with one of her children if not for the apartment at SKY. In her new apartment, Rodriguez has been able to maintain much of the same social life she had in her prior home. In fact, some of her friends moved into apartments at SKY at the same time Rodriguez did, maintaining her community.

BACKGROUND:

This case study shows how Watts Rising partners have leveraged TCC funds to secure National Institute of Health investment to further address health disparities and continue to cultivate community leaders along the way. In September 2023, the Watts Rising Collaborative partners, Housing Authority of the City of Los Angeles, Charles Drew University, the UCLA Clinical Translational Science Department, and community members were awarded a National Institute of Health Community Partnerships to Advance Science for Society (ComPASS) grant. The purpose of the federal grant is to empower community members to design an intervention focused on addressing the conditions that influence health, such as neighborhood and built environment, economic stability, education, and others. This story highlights Khnia Whiteside and Jorge Gonzalez, two members of the Community Leadership Council (Council), which informs Watts’ ComPASS intervention. The Council was formed in response to the sunset of the TCC grant and community members’ desire to continue to bring transformative change to Watts. To learn more about Watts Rising community engagement and leadership development activities, see page 46 of this report.

Interviews for this case study were conducted in February 2025.

Story and original post by UCLA Luskin Center for Innovation: https://innovation.luskin.ucla.edu/building-on-the-watts-rising-legacy-with-resident-leaders-at-the-helm/

JORGE GONZALEZ has lived in the Watts community for about 24 years, and he and his wife raised their three daughters there. Gonzalez and his daughters founded 5 LA Nuevo Comienzo, a nonprofit dedicated to empowering low-income families with young children to access museums, physical education, and language classes in South Central Los Angeles. In his day job, Gonzalez works for Southern California Crossroads, an organization that distributes food boxes and organizes resource fairs.

In 2019, Gonzalez became a Watts Rising Community Advisory Group member. The TCC-funded Advisory Group was created to offer advice on TCC-related projects and plans from the community’s perspective. The Advisory Group, composed of Watts residents, business owners, and community leaders, met with project leads bi-monthly.

As the implementation of Watts Rising and the Advisory Group wrapped up, Gonzalez sought new opportunities to stay involved in his community. When he learned about the National Institute of Health-funded opportunity to serve as a Community Leadership Council (Council) member with the ComPass project, he took action.

Every month, Gonzalez meets with the rest of the Council members to offer insights on its planning phase. He is particularly interested in making sure the ComPASS project benefits Watts youth, which has been a hallmark of his service to the community.

Gonzales said being a Council member has been a valuable networking and learning experience. For example, he has met and bonded with various community leaders working toward the common goal of neighborhood improvement in Watts. Hearing the different ways that they approach their work in the community has been a particularly enriching experience for Gonzalez.

KHNIA WHITESIDE, has lived in Watts for over 30 years and proudly raised her two daughters there. They all continue to live in the community. Whiteside owns a business where she cleans homes, medical offices, and commercial buildings.

Whiteside has been a resident representative within the Council since its inception in November 2023. She learned how to get involved with the Council through her youngest daughter, who signed her up because she knew her mom values being involved in the community and strives to be a positive force for change. For example, Whiteside has been an active volunteer in Watts community clean-up events, resource fairs, and local workshops on topics such as water contamination awareness.

Whiteside is committed to attending the Council’s monthly meetings and serves as the Vice President of the four-member clean-up subcommittee. Her duties include communicating with the public about clean-up events. As an active member of her church, Whiteside often shares invitations there.

Whiteside’s participation in the Council has provided her with peers who inspire one another. Through their group chats, they share resources and information.

Whiteside also credited her time on the Council with helping her form a connection with the City of LA’s Mayor’s Office of Community Business, which provides helpful entrepreneurial workshops. From these workshops, Whiteside has learned money management best practices and become more comfortable asking for the support of her personal and business network in sustaining her small business.

Home upgrades bring easy, free energy and bill savings to Watts homeowners

BACKGROUND:

This case study illustrates how TCC-funded energy efficiency programs with low administrative barriers bring home improvements to Watts residents, helping them save money and lower their energy use. To learn more about Watts Rising projects that lower energy costs for residents, see page 61 of this report.

Interviews for this story were conducted in April 2023 and November 2024.

Story and original post by UCLA Luskin Center for Innovation: https://innovation.luskin.ucla.edu/home-upgrades-bring-easy-free-energy-and-bill-savings-to-watts-homeowners/#marciala-jimenez

THELMA GAVIN BOWMAN lives in Watts in a home her mother and father purchased about 60 years ago. She is committed to maintaining it in good condition. When the TCC-funded Habitat for Humanity energy efficiency program offered free energy upgrades (as well as other upgrades beneficial to health and well-being), Bowman took the chance to save money and invest in the home that had been in her family for decades.

Bowman received several free home energy improvements: new light fixtures, a water heater, two new shower heads, new faucets for the kitchen and bathrooms, and a carbon monoxide detector. The Habitat for Humanity team also fixed several electrical sockets. “The wires were just hanging out … I don’t have to worry about it catching on fire now,” Bowman said. Bowman also participated in the TCC-funded GRID Alternatives solar program. Her home benefited from free roof repairs and the installation of solar panels. Not only is her home now more energy efficient, but uses renewable energy.

Between the avoided cost of the appliances and labor, Bowman estimates that she saved between $15,000 and $20,000 with these improvements. She also commented on the speed and convenience of the process, saying that the installations and repairs only took about two days to complete. “They came back and got in and they were gone … [it] was like I got a brand new house.” Bowman has since maintained a good relationship with the organization and the individuals who worked on her home.

Bowman’s savings continue to add up over time. She estimates that she saves at least $100 each month on her utility bills, allowing her to further provide for her grandchildren.

Bowman recommends the program to her neighbors. She has already passed out flyers up and down her street and invited neighbors into her home to demonstrate the upgrades. “I have them come into my house so I can show them what they did … that’s when they sign up.”

Bowman noted that for some people, these programs are more accessible than others due to the eligibility requirements and verification process. The maximum income levels for participation are higher than many energy programs, she said, and the programs allow applicants to count others living with them when measuring household size, expanding eligibility. “The Habitat for Humanity program is much easier — I wouldn’t have been able to qualify [for other programs]. But the way that they do it, it’s very easy.”

MARCIALA JIMENEZ has lived in Watts since 1986. After renting in other neighborhoods, Jimenez and her husband bought their house. The new home gave them more space to raise their four children, who are now adults.

Jimenez learned from a neighbor about two TCC-funded programs that reduce household energy costs — Habitat for Humanity’s energy efficiency program and GRID Alternatives’ no-cost solar panel program. She was interested because her neighbor had already benefited from the programs, so she reached out to learn more.

Jimenez has also taken advantage of other TCC-funded Watts Rising programs. GRID Alternatives installed rooftop solar panels and repaired the roof so the panels could be installed. She is currently waiting for the LA Department of Water and Power to approve the final panel set-up. Once the solar panels are providing her home with free, renewable energy, her bills and carbon footprint will decrease.

As elderly folks, we have been saving every penny. During the summer months, we turned on the air conditioner, and my electricity [bill] was not too high. And we have definitely been saving from a water perspective … I’ve seen a 10 to 15 percent reduction in our water bills.

– MARCIALA JIMENEZ

Jimenez and her husband received several upgrades in January 2024: Habitat for Humanity provided and installed two new ceiling fans, kitchen and bathroom faucets, air conditioning wall units, carbon monoxide detectors, shower heads, smoke detectors, and efficient light bulbs throughout the house. The newer appliances use less energy, and the resulting lower utility bills have led to savings that benefit Jimenez and her husband, who are retired and have a limited income.

Interview conducted by Valery Holguin

Blog written by Jannet Cordova |

Home improvements can be extremely costly causing some homeowners to put off these repairs and improvements for some time. This however, makes the repair or improvement even costlier and will require more time and money. Luckily, Habitat for Humanity, a nonprofit organization located in Watts, helps families to build and improve their living space at no cost through their Watts Rising Energy Efficiency Upgrade program. It was through this program that Watts resident, Thelma Gavin-Bowman, was able to receive the improvements her home needed at no cost to her.

Thelma explains she received a “hardwired heater, two air conditioners, one ceiling fan, one kitchen faucet, and two shower heads for my home.” These improvements were free of cost which she describes as “absolutely wonderful”. 

Improvements were installed within two or three days, she describes. “They came in, took a look, did everything professionally, and left my home with no mess.” Thelma had reached out to Habitat for Humanity when her water heater broke down but was left with even more improvements giving her home a whole revamp. 

“I would say the program helped me by saving at least ten thousand dollars..out of my pocket those costs would have been very high”, Thelma explains. She mentioned the additional cost of labor that would have been added had she made these improvements herself. 

When asked if she would recommend this program she said she already does.“ I already told my neighbors and everyone who I come across, in my neighborhood.” She even gives people tours of her home so they can see these improvements for themselves. “Absolutely, I tell everyone how this program is one well done. Free installment and friendly service…The program was an incredible help.” 

Thelma expressed her gratitude for this program and encouraged other residents to take advantage of the program available in the Watts community. It will surely alleviate some stress that comes with being a homeowner.

For more information about the program and how to apply please refer to the program’s flyer. You can also email  homepreservation@habitatla.org or call (310)323-4663 ext. 314 and be sure to leave your name, phone number, and home address. Income and other restrictions may apply.