New Exercise Equipment and Fitness Classes

In an effort to support the ongoing health and well-being of residents, the Trust installed exercise equipment last month along its raised running and walking track at the Star Apartments. Residents and staff are starting fitness classes to take advantage of the new equipment, which was funded by the Los Angeles County Department of Health Services.

 

Fit and Defense Class– Free public class!

Resident Services Coordinator Carlos Grayson recently launched a fitness and self-defense at the Star Apartments every Tuesday at 6pm, and it is open to the public! The class teaches participants how to become more aware of their surroundings, evade and combat attackers, and get in shape at the same time. Carlos is a personal trainer, an award-winning body builder, and has been practicing martial arts since he was young. He is excited to share his knowledge to help the Trust community get fit and stay safe at the same time. If you would like to participate, email email hidden; JavaScript is required.

 

Walking and Stretching Class

Resident Services Coordinator Tootsa Coghlan is developing weekly exercise regimens that promote health and wellness. Aimed at residents who are new to fitness and nutrition, the class will be part physical and part educational. Participants will be guided through daily stretching, walking and exercise routines at the Star, and taught about lifestyle choices that generate good health. Weekly themes will include the muscular-skeletal system, full-body awareness, benefits of vitamin D, heart disease, and mood disorders.

2016 Housing First Partners Conference

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Last week, Skid Row Housing Trust participated in the Housing First Partners Conference in Downtown Los Angeles, which is the largest conference of its kind. Focused on bringing Housing First programs to scale to end chronic homelessness nationwide, over 800 attendees shared strategies and experiences from their communities. As a sponsor, the Trust helped kick-off the conference on Tuesday, March 22nd by leading tours of the Skid Row neighborhood and Trust buildings. Trust staff also presented on lessons learned from renovating and updating older buildings in our portfolio. On the conference’s last day, CEO Mike Alvidrez helped introduce Congresswoman Maxine Waters, who spoke about her $13 billion budget proposal to address homelessness. “We know how to solve homelessness, and our strategies are backed by evidence. For instance, Housing First has been adopted by the VA as the model for ending veteran homelessness,” said Trust CEO Mike Alvidrez. “The challenge now is to expand our programs so that everyone in need can access housing.”

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LA County Spotlights Star Apartments

A Star Turn from Los Angeles County Newsroom on Vimeo.

Los Angeles County Newsroom visited the Star Apartments to talk with residents and staff to learn more about the innovative complex. Named one of TIME’s best inventions of 2015, the Star Apartments is a product of Skid Row Housing Trust’s pioneering partnership with Los Angeles County Department of Health Services, which identifies and refers individuals to the Star who were homeless and frequent utilizers of its emergency health services. Watch to find out why the Star is a nationally recognized model studied by organizations and local governments seeking to address the root causes of homelessness in their communities.