MISINFORMATIONLarkin Place is for people with the most severe drug addictions and mental illnesses.
TRUTH
Larkin Place is for people who have experienced homelessness for a year or more and have a long-term disability. Disabilities are not limited to substance use disorders and serious mental health conditions; they also include physical or developmental disabilities, chronic health conditions such as diabetes, high blood pressure, seizures, respiratory problems or arthritis, or HIV-related illnesses. Among these, chronic health conditions are the most common for people who meet these requirements in Claremont.
People with physical or behavioral health needs that exceed the scope of the onsite services available will not be candidates for Larkin Place. All residents will complete a thorough vetting process to assess their ability to live safely and independently in a community setting.
Sources: LA County HMIS Database & Jamboree Housing
MISINFORMATIONLarkin Place residents will endanger our community.
TRUTH
Assuming that people experiencing homelessness are dangerous is rooted in stigma rather than credible research. Our unhoused neighbors already live next to schools, parks, and the elderly in retirement villages. Housing these neighbors does not cause an increase in crime; it allows them to stabilize and address any illnesses or disabilities through wrap-around services tailored to meet their needs. In fact, a recent study published by UCI that aggregated crime data with affordable housing projects located in Orange County (including PSH) found that the siting of affordable housing reduces most types of crime, especially violent crime.
Source: The Impact of Affordable Housing on Housing & Crime in OC, UCI, 2022.
MISINFORMATION
Larkin Place will decrease the property values of the surrounding community.
TRUTH
While it’s understandable that people want to protect their investments, the vast majority of studies have found that affordable housing does not depress neighboring property values and may even raise them in some cases. In the same UCI study mentioned above, researchers found that the siting of affordable housing, including PSH, did not negatively affect housing prices and in fact, surrounding communities saw modest increases in both sales prices and price per square foot.
Source: The Impact of Affordable Housing on Housing & Crime in OC, UCI, 2022.
MISINFORMATIONResidents will not be evicted for illegal activity.
TRUTH
Residents at Larkin Place will have the legal rights and responsibilities that any renter has in the State of California, and eviction may result from lease violations—including
violating the strict visitor policy, non-payment of rent, or any behaviors that threaten the safety and wellbeing of the community. Source: Jamboree Housing
MISINFORMATION87 residents will live at Larkin Place.
TRUTH
Larkin Place will house single adults and some couples; no household may include anyone who is not a fully vetted and eligible leaseholder. Larkin Place is not a shared- housing model, so roommates (other than couples who are married or in domestic partnerships) will not be eligible to live there. The anticipated occupancy is 37.
Source: Jamboree Housing
MISINFORMATIONLarkin Place will house criminals.
TRUTH
Thorough criminal background checks will be completed for every tenant to exclude anyone who has been convicted of a serious or violent crime, including violent felonies, sex offenses, arson, and methamphetamine production. Jamboree is required to meet the same Federal and State Fair Housing and non-discrimination law in screening its residents as any other landlord in California.
Source: Jamboree Housing
MISINFORMATIONLarkin Place excludes families and seniors.
TRUTH
Larkin Place will not exclude seniors, and residents may grow their families once they are stably housed at Larkin Place.
Source: Jamboree Housing
MISINFORMATIONLarkin Place won’t house people experiencing homelessness in Claremont.
TRUTH
Residents will be prioritized through LA County’s Coordinated Entry System (CES), which takes into account the places where people call home when determining permanent supportive housing placements. Regardless, homelessness is a regional crisis, and we need to think about this issue on a regional scale if we’re going to make meaningful change. Every city, neighborhood, and neighbor must do their part to bring our unhoused indoors and help end our homelessness crisis. Surrounding cities have done their part; last year alone, 35 people experiencing homelessness in Claremont were permanently housed in projects located in and funded by surrounding communities. Larkin Place is a first step in doing our part to be a part of the solution.
Source: SPA 3 CES Lead & LA County HMIS Database
MISINFORMATIONJamboree Housing Corporation is an absentee developer without Claremont’s best interest in mind.
TRUTH
Jamboree is a respected, mission-driven non-profit developer with more than 30 years of experience building and operating affordable and permanent supportive housing in Southern California and across the state. Their assets are not an indictment of the agency but rather a reflection of their successful development of supportive housing in wealthier communities amidst vocal opposition. Jamboree has already been a part of the Claremont community for over a decade since its successful affordable housing development, Courier Place, was built in 2011.
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