The Los Angeles Housing and Community Investment Department works to create viable urban communities by advocating for safe and livable neighborhoods through the promotion, development and preservation of decent, safe, affordable housing and by expanding economic opportunities and public services, principally for low- and moderate income persons.
A merger is always difficult, but restructuring is often necessary to encourage growth and positive value. HCIDLA has gone through “merger pains” and is now working its way to being a fully integrated service delivery operation. This was the focus of HCIDLA’s 2014 All Hands Meeting, the second since the merge of LAHD and CDD components and the first under the leadership of its newly appointed General Manager, Rushmore D. Cervantes.
Mr. Cervantes set the tone with an overview of the Department’s performance in 2014, and future activities and goals vis-à-vis the recently developed communications strategy and articulated the organization’s core values. Staff also got a sneak peek of the new website, which reflects HCIDLA’s core values and messaging. The website is scheduled to launch in late spring 2015.
The meeting was also highlighted by two guest speakers – the Honorable Councilman Gil Cedillo and renowned seismologist Dr. Lucy Jones. Councilman Cedillo urged everyone to “be bold and humble,” and, inspired by the venue, even threw in a couple of “amens” for good measure. He was followed by Dr. Jones, who is currently serving as the Mayor’s Science Advisor for Seismic Safety. HCIDLA was treated to a seismic experience, and was given a glimpse of how the City would function after an inevitable catastrophe. HCIDLA’s Sally Richman later addressed the role of HCIDLA after such a disaster.
The most heartwarming moment of the meeting came when Lease Portfolio Monitoring Unit’s Michael O’Connell generously donated his 50/50 opportunity drawing prize to the 2014 HCIDLA Home Walk Fundraising team, later citing, “It’s up to people like us to help out when and where we can.”
The All Hands Meeting was very well received, and the Department demonstrated it was indeed in good hands. HCIDLA staff left with a renewed sense of purpose, and an optimistic vision of what’s to come.
More news from HCIDLA includes information regarding new and upcoming affordable housing developments, winter shelter availabilities, and seismic retrofitting priorities.
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