LOS ANGELES — A panoramic view facing downtown Los Angeles brings a new perspective for Gregory Poarch, a formerly unhoused man who travelled the streets of Los Angeles in hopes of finding a way back to housing. 

“What led me to homelessness was a lot of narcotic use, a lot of mental illness, a lack of support of who would accept me, who liked me and who cares about me. I really wasn’t having people that was caring about me,” Poarch said.

After spending years unhoused, Poarch finally regained housing and a sense of security at the FLOR 401 Lofts, a 98-unit permanent housing complex in Skid Row partially funded by measure HHH-funds.

Poarch shared that his life has been changing for the better ever since he moved in this past January.

“It’s a good feeling that I was able to get a good clean shower, good healthy shower, get something to eat. Go to sleep and feel pretty good about myself and feel pretty good about life,” Poarch said.

Poarch is one of many individuals who has access to a 380 square-foot studio to call home.

Jet Doye is the vice president of advancement with the Skid Row Housing Trust that constructed the building and 26 other permanent housing buildings in the area. Doye believes permanent and supportive housing is the way to alleviating the homelessness crisis. 

“It looks like LA County’s goal is to reach 375,000 units. To give you an idea of how big of a number that is, we’ve built about 175,000 in the last nine years and so we are all working together to find more solutions to scale more funding. There are too many people living in the City of LA who can’t afford the median rent,” Doye said.

The experience has been a welcomed change for Poarch.

“I felt pretty good. I know I used to be homeless. I am not considered to be homeless no more. I’m considered as a readmission of a person who has better direction now,” Poarch said.

With permanent housing and supportive services, Poarch shared that he finally feels like his life is on the right track.