LOS ANGELES, August 21, 2025 – Southside Church of Christ, together with Concerned Citizens Community Involvement (CCCI) and John Stanley, Inc., celebrated the grand opening of Serenity, a $41 million mixed-use 50-unit affordable rental project for homeless and low-income seniors in Los Angeles. The milestone event featured a commemorative ribbon-cutting ceremony and guided tours for government officials, community leaders, and residents.
Located on 0.82 acres of the former Southside Church of Christ parking lot, Serenity combines housing and community development with ground-floor commercial space. The project was made possible through a partnership between John Stanley, Inc. (“John Stanley”), CCCI, and Innovative Housing Opportunities (“IHO”), alongside significant support from the City of Los Angeles Housing Department and the Housing Authority of the City of Los Angeles.
Public-Private Partnership
The development was financed through a combination of public and private resources. The City of Los Angeles Housing Department provided a $9.22 million Proposition HHH Supportive Housing Loan, $5 million in HOME Funds, and issued $23.7 million in Tax Exempt and Taxable Bonds funded through R4 Capital Funding LLC and privately placed with Western Alliance Bank. An additional $13.1 million in LIHTC equity was provided by R4 Capital LLC. The Housing Authority of the City of Los Angeles contributed 36 Project-Based Vouchers to support chronically homeless and homeless seniors.
In total, the project will serve 18 chronically homeless seniors, 18 homeless seniors, and 14 non-homeless independent senior households.
“Nearly three years ago, we announced the groundbreaking of what has truly been a public-private partnership,” said Saki Middleton, President of John Stanley Inc. “Through hard work on behalf of the city, CCCI, and my team at John Stanley, we are proud to finally unveil Serenity to the community. This will be more than just a building; it will be a home for previously unhoused seniors and will provide the community with critical support services, enhancing their individual lives and the quality of the neighborhood.”
“We remain grateful to God, the church members, community, and the city for allowing us to provide quality housing and services in the neighborhood. This building will stand as a beacon of hope and a symbol of progress to our community,” said Dr. Carl C. Baccus, Minister of Southside Church of Christ.
“With the opening of this beautiful building, we have fulfilled the opportunity God granted us, and we look forward to continuing his work in the community. Serenity is just the beginning of the work that can be accomplished when people come together for the greater good,” said Chris Baccus, Executive Director of Concerned Citizens Community Involvement.
“Innovative Housing Opportunities is proud to officially open the doors of Serenity to the community,” said Rochelle Mills, President and CEO of Innovative Housing Opportunities. “It remains imperative that each of us do what we can to address the growing homeless population in our city and ensure that Los Angeles is a place where all residents have the right to a healthy, beautiful, and safe home.”
