SPECTRUM NEWS: Cornerstone Housing For Adults With Disabilities Breaks Ground On The Bhatia Family Village

A new housing community for neurodiverse adults with ground floor retail in the heart of Los Angeles’ Pico-Robertson neighborhood
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LOS ANGELES – Today, Cornerstone Housing for Adults with Disabilities broke ground on The Bhatia Family Village, a 64-unit, revolutionary housing model for neurodiverse adults. Located in the heart of Los Angeles’ Pico-Robertson neighborhood, The Bhatia Family Village will serve as a nexus for residents, neighbors, and businesses. This innovative new model for housing will empower residents with developmental disabilities to live independently and contribute to their surrounding community in unprecedented ways, while providing rich amenities, including ground-floor retail, for the surrounding neighborhood. 

"The Bhatia Family Village will provide the neurodiverse community with an opportunity to live independently and contribute in unprecedented ways. It will also enrich and enliven the Pico-Robertson neighborhood, creating a space of beauty and soul. Most importantly, it will provide a blueprint for how we can meet an urgent housing need that can be replicated across California and beyond. Through this project, we are creating a place where generations of families and individuals can find a sense of belonging and community,” said Kam Babaoff, Chair, Cornerstone Housing for Adults with Disabilities

Attendees included Assemblymember Isaac Bryan (D-Los Angeles); Senator Ben Allen (D-Santa Monica); Paul Koretz, Former Member, Los Angeles City Council; Bob Hertzberg, Former Speaker, California State Assembly; Anita Bhatia, CEO and Executive Director of the Ramesh and Kalpana Bhatia Family Foundation, landmark donor for The Bhatia Family Village; as well as representatives from the offices of Congressman Brad Sherman (CA-32); Congresswoman Sydney Kamlager-Dove (CA-37) and Los Angeles City Councilmember Katy Young Yaroslavsky.

Ground floor retail will provide vocational opportunities for residents and diverse amenities for the local community. The second floor will provide an inclusive, accessible, and sensory friendly site for education, training and thought leadership. 

“To me, the groundbreaking of The Bhatia Family Village is the start of a new life and new adventure. I’m looking forward to a brighter future and community of friends,” said Adam Breall, Member of the neurodiverse community and advocate.

Additional quotes from elected officials, community leaders, advocates, and donors: 

"A home means more than just shelter. For the future residents of this innovative housing project, it will mean stability. It will mean acceptance. It will mean independence and self-determination. With this groundbreaking, the 55th Assembly District is leading the way in inclusive housing and guiding California toward a future where everyone can live with comfort and dignity." - Assemblymember Isaac Bryan (D-Los Angeles)

“This groundbreaking offers us a glimpse into the future of inclusive housing solutions that provide critically needed space for adults who have intellectual and developmental differences to live, work and thrive. It is my hope that this initiative will inspire future endeavors throughout the state, further promoting inclusivity and compassion." - Senator Ben Allen (D-Santa Monica)

“The Bhatia Family Village will not only provide much-needed housing for adults with IDD, but it will also offer those individuals the opportunity to find companionship and community in one of L.A.'s most vibrant neighborhoods. The success of The Bhatia Family Village should serve as a case study for lawmakers across the state and around the country about how public-private partnerships can help alleviate the struggles adults with IDD encounter when searching for housing. As a former member of the California Senate and Speaker of the State Assembly, I am proud that we have taken this important step to ensure no parent ever lies awake at night worried about where their son or daughter with IDD will one day live." - Bob Hertzberg, Former Speaker, California State Assembly 

“As the parent of a neurodiverse teenager, I am acutely aware of the housing crisis in our country for children like mine. That is why our family is proud to invest in innovative and forward-thinking solutions for the developmentally diverse community like The Bhatia Family Village. This game-changing project exemplifies what can be accomplished when families, community members, business leaders, and government officials work together towards a singular purpose. Our hope is that this will be the first of many ‘Villages’ throughout the United States.” - Anita Bhatia, Executive Director, Ramesh and Kalpana Bhatia Family Foundation

“Like every human being, adults with IDD deserve the option to live in an independent, supportive community. Unfortunately, when it comes to housing in Los Angeles, the deck is stacked against them. However, The Bhatia Family Village presents a model of a community where like-minded people can understand, support, and cheer for each other. As a parent, The Bhatia Family Village gives me hope for what the nation is possible of creating for individuals with IDD.” - Eric Schwartz, Cornerstone Board Member and parent advocate

About Cornerstone Housing: 
Cornerstone Housing for Adults with Disabilities is a non-profit organization whose mission is to set a new standard for inclusive and independent living for neurodiverse adults in Los Angeles. To learn more, visit www.TheCornerstoneVillage.org.