About Us

Working together to foster health and housing equity

Our History

In 1978, ALA founder Janet Witkin was caring for her grandfather who was becoming frailer and more isolated with age. She was struck with the inadequacy of his options: he could remain alone at home with little support or move to an institution where he’d forfeit his independence. Her predicament inspired Janet to create a Shared Housing program to match seniors needing support with low-income housing seekers, the first of its kind in Los Angeles. Since its inception, ALA has matched a total of 2400 seniors through its Shared Housing program which has been a successful alternative to traditional affordable housing, especially for seniors, those facing housing instability, and single low-income renters.

ALA is a BIPOC-led nonprofit currently serving high-acuity individuals in Los Angeles. ALA’s mission is to reduce disparities and promote housing and health equity by enabling access to housing and health services for disadvantaged populations. ALA provides intensive case management, permanent affordable housing, supportive housing, shared housing, and access to community resources. We envision a community where all individuals – regardless of age, race, or socioeconomic status – have access to affordable healthcare, housing, and a network of supportive services.

To date, ALA has developed a total of 115 affordable housing units spanning 10 properties throughout Los Angeles including the LEEDS-certified, Janet L. Witkin Center. In 2010, ALA expanded its programs to include Supportive Housing and Services offering intensive case management to support chronically homeless and very low-income seniors. Today, ALA provides Affordable Housing for 100 seniors and Permanent Supportive Housing for 75 seniors.

In 2020, in partnership with the West Hollywood Community Housing Corporation, ALA opened Rampart Mint, a 23-unit supportive housing building for very low-income and homeless seniors living with HIV/AIDS. ALA is currently in the process of developing a 45-unit residence with supportive services for homeless veterans in Santa Fe Springs. In 2022, ALA launched its Enhanced Care Management program in partnership with the Department of Health Care Services, Anthem Blue Cross, and L.A. Care. The program will serve another 150 high-acuity adults.

Over the last 45 years, ALA has supported over 35,000 Angelenos with services, counseling, and permanent housing.