Every time Silvia Aguirre passed an apartment complex under construction, she longed to have a unit for her family. So, when she was told that her application for the apartment she sought was approved, she felt an overwhelming sense of joy. “The first thing I thought was, ‘My kids are going to have a better home,’” says the mother of two small children.
Her last one-bedroom apartment in South-Central Los Angeles lacked heating –– which is illegal in California ––, and the winter cold endangered her children’s health, as they suffer from asthma. There was barely enough space to fit two beds: one for the parents and one for the kids.
This past September, the family moved into their new three-bedroom apartment at Los Lirios, in Boyle Heights, which has heating, air conditioning, and even a small balcony. “My kids feel like their dream has come true because now they have their own bedroom,” she says. “They longed to have their own space, their privacy… We used to think living in an apartment like this was out of reach.”
Los Lirios is an apartment building with 64 units for people with limited incomes. The building, which now houses 160 people, is a transit-oriented development conveniently located in front of the Soto Station on Metro’s E Line and near bus routes 251 and 605.
The building includes studios and one, two, and three-bedroom apartments, as well as a laundry room, gym, children’s play area, and community room. It houses families earning between 30% and 50% of the area’s median income (AMI), with 20 apartments reserved for formerly homeless individuals who receive Section 8 assistance.
Los Lirios was developed through Metro’s Joint Development Program, which focuses on identifying Metro-owned land—often made available after transit project construction—for housing developments. This is made possible by working with partners and private developers to build the housing units.
Los Lirios was the result of a collaboration among Metro, East LA Community Corporation (ELACC) and Bridge Housing, who brought this apartment complex to life.
In September 2021, the Metro Board of Directors committed to building 10,000 homes by 2031, half of which will be reserved for low- and moderate-income households. So far, 2,600 homes have been built, providing housing for 6,500 people in Los Angeles County.
“I think the partnership between Metro and other organizations [to build affordable housing] is very important,” says Silvia. “A home means an opportunity and a big change in the lives of families.”
Margaret Ruiz also rents an apartment in Los Lirios. She burst into tears upon learning she had qualified for housing. “I couldn’t believe it,” she says.
For months, she explains, she had been looking for a new home that was more affordable and could accommodate the needs of her partner, Ricardo Calderon, who has a disability. “His vision and hearing aren’t good, and he has had several serious falls,” Margaret shares.
Now her apartment at Los Lirios has enough space to maneuver a wheelchair, and the bathroom includes support bars and a shower seat for his comfort. “The apartment is beautiful; we dreamed of a place like this,” says Margaret, happy that she was also able to bring Benji, her emotional support dog with her. “There are many low-income people or people with disabilities who also need housing.”
One of the benefits of Los Lirios is its proximity to transit. This allows Silvia to easily take her children to school and Margaret to use buses to pick up Ricardo’s medications or visit places in the city without paying for parking.
“I am very happy to be at Los Lirios. We have good neighbors, and they also offer free cooking classes here, which is a way to learn to eat healthily and build community,” says Margaret. “I never imagined having a home like this; it’s incredible.”
For more information about our projects, visit the website: Joint Development – LA Metro
For questions about affordable housing in the City of Los Angeles, visit here. For housing questions for people experiencing homelessness, visit here.
Discover more from The Source
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.