Reaching Higher Together: HACoLA and KIPP LA

About the Program

Category: Community and Economic Development (Best in Category)

Year: 2016

The Housing Authority of the County of Los Angeles (HACoLA) submitted a disposition application on June 13, 2013, to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and received approval to dispose of its vacant administrative building located in East Los Angeles, California. The property was sold to KIPP LA Schools (KIPP LA) to convert the 2.6-acre property into a K-8 public charter school campus. Construction of a campus housing two high performing schools directly across the street from HACoLA’s 504-unit Nueva Maravilla Public Housing Development would improve the quality of life of its low-income youth. The KIPP LA K-8 public charter school campus is completely accessible to the public housing youth that live directly across the street at Nueva Maravilla, literally a few minutes walking distance from their home. Given the transportation challenges of low-income families, the close proximity of the charter school campus further eradicates the barriers of educational opportunities for public housing youth.