On Aug. 26, 2025, Los Angeles County’s newly appointed Director of the Department of Homeless Services and Housing, Sarah Mahin, visited Baldwin Park’s interim housing sites—Esperanza Villa and Serenity Homes. Mahin joined Mayor Alejandra Avila, CEO Manuel Carrillo Jr., and city staff to assess how tiny-home villages are supporting residents on their path to stability and permanent housing.
Appointed on July 8, Mahin leads the county’s new consolidated homelessness agency, drawing on two decades of experience at the Housing for Health division and LAHSA’s policy office. During the visit, she praised Baldwin Park’s housing-first model and expressed commitment to strengthening partnerships across Los Angeles County.
Esperanza Villa, opened Nov. 22, 2021 at 14173 Garvey Avenue, offers 25 individual tiny homes with on-site case management, three daily meals, laundry and shower facilities, and 24/7 security. Residents typically stay up to 90 days while they connect to permanent housing options.
Serenity Homes, launched Sept. 24, 2022, provides 16 furnished family modules—each equipped with beds, storage and donated IKEA furniture. Families receive health and mental-health services, meals, laundry, shower trailers, and an on-site computer room. Bridge housing stays range from three to six months (Baldwin Park).
Mayor Avila noted that these sites “help residents stabilize, access vital services, and take meaningful steps toward independence.” Mahin affirmed her support for local programs that serve as models for scalable, person-centered homelessness solutions.
