Weller House, a fourplex in south Los Angeles, opened last week and will house 28 formerly homeless men and women, who were on the street or living in their cars. The people were set to start moving in last week.
The building was constructed by Heidi Roberts and her husband John Betz purposely for the homeless. Late last year, they notified Regina Weller that they planned to name the building “Weller House” after both she and her husband Steve who passed away in September 2017. Both of the Wellers dedicated their lives to helping the homeless in Venice. Theirs is a book unto itself.
In November last year, Regina went to see the house and blessed it with her marker as shown in the photos.
In April this year, the construction came to a close, the furniture, the beds, and appliances arrived and were put in place. The time had come for the final touch.
Sunday, April 22, many friends of Heidi’s were there to make a bed, move utensils to assigned rooms, and various other last minute tasks. The places come totally furnished including silverware and dishes. Each resident even gets a hygiene kit. So there were a lot of last minute touches.
Many Venetians answered Heidi’s call and supplied furniture and other necessities. While walking thru the rooms, Heidi pointed out “this table was from Suzanne Wrede, this couch was from Aby Myers. Larry Layne was super generous.” Brian Ulf stopped by and said furniture from his parents Palm Springs home was brought over.
Constructed for the Homeles
Heidi Roberts, Regina Weller, John Betz
These new buildings that Heidi and John Betz constructed are referred to as collaborative housing. They are planned to be a stepping stone for the homeless to become productive, working citizens. These people pay approximately $500 each.
Heidi and John both feel this is the fastest and least expensive way to get homeless off the street and productive. They feel they have the model that works quickly to help the homeless and the two will provide their plan for others, both in California and elsewhere, that will establish the wherewithal to duplicate this plan.
They are in escrow to build another fourplex just like the Weller House.
Labor of Love
One can tell this has been a labor of love for both of them. Heidi, who has worked in Venice in various capacities to help solve the homeless problems, was touched as was her husband by the applicants.
“They actually dressed up to interview for a place,” she said “and they didn’t need to. We told them they had it. One thing we noticed was that they did not consider themselves homeless.”
May 1 and Weller House was Full
“We are already full,” Heidi said. “Many wonderful stories: one woman already has a job, another is exploring x-ray technician school, another is getting dentures so she can smile. All are doing incredibly well and many say they finally feel at home. Lots of people from Venice.”
Each Building Similar
Each building contains four or three upstairs bedrooms on each side, complete with a full bathroom for almost each two bedrooms. Downstairs is a large kitchen with a dinning table, a community room to watch TV, and a computer room. Each resident will share a bedroom. Boys are in one area and girls are in the other area. This is dormitory living.
SHARE Will Supply the Residents with Support
All residents will have a roommate—two to each bedroom. They will be supplied mainly by SHARE (Self-Help And Recovery Exchange), located in Culver City. Heidi said they had about six from Venice.
“The statistics for SHARE are astounding: 40 percent plus of SHARE collaborative housing residents get jobs within three months,” Heidi wrote. “Many will move on to other apartments. Some will stay forever.
“Collaborative Housing is a place for them to re-learn social and emotional skills to be successful. They live as a family and collaborate as a family, complete with the responsibilities of living in a family. Chores are shared, they cook together, socialize together, support one another and share resources.
“So far so good. The places are super clean, the residents are happy and lots of lives are being restarted. John and I are now focused on the building. SHARE provides the social/emotional support for the tenants. And everyone will do well at Weller House.”
Tom Haberkorn of SHARE said a “Peer Bridge” would be provided for Weller House. A peer bridge is a person who has had experience of being a substance abuser plus having been homeless, and of course, totally recovered. Heidi says not all are former substance abusers. In addition, each “peer” gets 21 weeks of training.
The rules for Weller House will be No Alcohol, No Drugs, No Illegal Activity on the premises. The person who acts as the peer bridge will be summoned immediately if there is a problem. They are on call 24 hours and service 30 people.
Their job is to counsel those and hopefully help them become drug and alcohol free and working.