Hollywood Community Housing

larry williamson

I lived in two of their properties, St. Andrews Bungalows and Argyle Court and both where great, the bungalow was a one bed room with a good size room and kitchen, Argyle was studio but still had a nice size room and separate kitchen, full bath and nice size walk in closet. I would love to move back to either one or any of their properties.

C. A. Ross

The HCHC building where I live had a wonderful building manager when I moved here over a decade ago. When she died we went for quite a while without a manager. When our new manager finally arrived his first act of business was to attempt to charge residents $150.00 to use our Commons room, a room that had always been open to us 0800 to 2200 daily. That was an outrage to people who can barely afford their Section 8 portion of the rent, and it did not stand. Nearly everyone complained to HCHC about it and the requirement was recinded. Instead the room is locked 24-7 unless you go to the control freak manager and grovel for permission, that is if he is available so long as you don't bother him on Saturday or Sunday or on a Holiday. Shortly thereafter he started installing security cameras at the front and rear gates, "for tenant protection" when there had never been a need in what is a neighborhood right up against the Hollywood Hills, already middle working class and undergoing rapid gentrification. After the exterior, he installed one interior camera located on the second floor covering only one corridor. Odd that only ONE portion of a hall on the second floor needed protection. It would be more logical to cover the front and rear building doors than part of a second story corridor, if really trying to "protect" occupants. Complaints about this discriminatory act did not get the camera removed, however, but did bring cameras to part of the first floor, although there was no further coverage to the the second floor. This would be tolerable if the manager did actually use the cameras for their stated purpose. He does not. There have been a two incidents of vandalism is the unprotected car park in the rear of the building where the first cameras were installed. He refused to review video for these occurances, nor will he permit the person suffering property damage or loss view the footage. Why? Because the cameras are NOT there to protect the residents, rather to maintain control of them. He reviews the tapes himself to see who has come and gone at any hour of the day or night, and who has had visitors. He has stopped me and questioned why my dog had to go outside at any specific hour, or who was with so and so and weren't those the same clothes as yesterday? Oh, yes, he did. ! That isn't even the tiniest bit of exaggeration. It is fact. During my tenancy in this HCHC building I have witness a transformation from a warm, familial environment where we helped and supported one another, a HOME, into the mini-police compound it has become where everyone is monitored and questioned and pitted one against the other. That has been my experience with this particular HCHC building. Surely the others properties are not like this, at least I hope they are not. However, it seems Barker Management, who hires building managers and is responsible for the amainranence of the properties, has shifted the priorities from humanitarian efforts,to assist the poor and those with life-threatening illness, to bring HCHC behind the Orange Curtain, where their offices are located, and this manager is just one example of how they are doing so. I have given this property two stars because I am at least out of the weather, No longer homeless. The first few year here were five stars plus! Not so now.

Ismar E.

great organization. doing a lot of good for communities around LA

Shaquille Mateo

I live in one these apartments! It is the great