SOFESA's Sequoia Village Family Housing is a permanent family housing model based on the premise that families not only deserve, but they actually thrive, living in within a smaller housing community (up to 5 units on one lot) within their locally residentially zoned area.
Residential Structure:
One residentially zoned lot (7,000 sq ft or more) within a local community. On the lot are a minimum of 3 and maximum of 5 completely separate housing units for SOFESA families. Each unit has an outside space as well. Living on the property is a SOFESA Family Advocate family who oversees the property and is in healthy and long term relationship with the other SOFESA families living on the property.
SOFESA Family Advocates are previously homeless persons who are a long time SOFESA family member who is now employed by SOFESA to help lead and journey with other families and support our mission to heal homelessness. They are actively on their continued healing journey, have proven their stability and commitment and are ready to give back to their local community. Because of their own lived experiences, they are able to better understand and facilitate the needs that our SOFESA families have.
Benefits of the Sequoia Village Family Housing Model:
* Permanent Housing - Not having an exit date allows families to feel a sense of permanency which in turn helps them to settle in sooner and allow themselves an opportunity to begin the adjustments needed to accept the idea of having a place they do not have to leave. This has an enormous impact on timeliness for healing as homeless persons live a life of transiency which keeps them from making long term commitments and allowing themselves opportunities to become receptive and vulnerable to new patterns of behavior.
* On Site Individualized Support - Being able to immediately access a trusted person on-site who understands some, if not all, of the experiences you have had helps to combat the loneliness often felt by previously homeless persons placed into housing. SOFESA operates on a relational model of care. After 24 years, SOFESA knows that healthy relationships with our families and the local community come first. Our history of care proves that people tend to make different decisions for themselves based on their relationships (not transactions or charity they have encountered). Healthy relationships + healthy environment = healthy decisions. SOFESA understands that it could take families years to adjust and become emotionally and financially stable. With no exit date, families are offered lower housing payments and reprieve based on their current situation with the goal to eventually help the family create financial success that enables them to be able to pay market value for their unit.
* Housing Retention - Our model keeps chronically homeless and generationally poor families from repeating the vicious cycle of poverty and homelessness. Sadly, our system is focused on sheltering the homeless, a transactional method that puts the shelter/house at the center. But SOFESA knows that at the center of homelessness is a PERSON. Heal the person through a relational model of care, permanently house them to continue the healthy relationship and provide for them an environment of healthy living within a local community - all of this helps eliminate the factors that lead to repetitive and chronic family homelessness. Our first housing model (test case) was purchased in 2010. Families previously struggling with constant eviction and instability have now been housed for over 13+ years.
* Smaller Scale Housing Impact on Local Community - Previously homeless families do not benefit from large scale housing units (now being forced into smaller residentially zoned communities) that do not offer on-site support and relational care for their new housing environment. Larger scale property management will evict families (who still need ongoing support and care) if the rent is not paid each month. This will force vulnerable families back into the horrendous 2-1-1 housing cycle, which is currently their only way to obtain low income/subsidized housing in Los Angeles.
* Overall Family & Community Health - SOFESA has found that if you place a vulnerable family into a larger scale unit in a less residential area with more police activity (i.e., domestic disputes, drugs and prostitution) then that family will either leave because the environment is too toxic and chose homelessness in a less toxic area OR they will join in the behaviors and environment they are surrounded by. In 2010, SOFESA placed a family with a history of apartment living only, with multiple evictions (and currently being evicted) and in danger of being homeless into our first home (test case) a single family residence within a local residential community. Within 2 years, the father had started his own business and began providing for his family. Within 5 years they began to pay full market value for their unit. The environment in which a family lives has a profound affect on whether they have an authentic opportunity to thrive or not.
Why is it called Sequoia Village?
The sequoia tree is the largest living thing in the world with heights up to 400'-500', yet with roots that are considered too shallow to support their height. So how do they stand so tall for so long?
The sequoia tree is the largest living thing in the world with heights up to 400'-500', yet with roots that are considered too shallow to support their height. So how do they stand so tall for so long?
- They grow closely together, one right next to the other. (Small scale housing so families can support one another and thrive)
- Their underground root system reaches outward and connects with the neighboring tree's root system so they can sustain and nourish one another. (SOFESA's relational model of care that nourishes the family and local community throughout their healing and growth)
- Their branches above ground reach out to one another due to their close proximity, allowing for them to "hold up" and stabilize one another. (Family residential areas are healthier for the local community and affect healing for families)