CLAREMONT, Calif. — Jamboree Housing Corporation will break ground this week on Larkin Place, a 33-unit supportive housing development for individuals experiencing homelessness. Initially approved by the Claremont City Planning Department in 2022, construction can now begin, thanks in part to local housing champions who garnered the community support to help Jamboree move this development forward.
“Addressing the critical issue of homelessness is not someone else’s problem – solutions must start within our own community,” says former Claremont Mayor and City Council member Jed Leano, a housing advocate who currently serves as Chair of the San Gabriel Valley Housing Trust and board member of the Los Angeles County Affordable Housing Solutions Agency. Leano has long supported affordable housing options and was a vocal advocate for Larkin Place on the City Council.
Another tireless community stakeholder was Rev. Gene Boutilier, President of the Housing and Homeless Collaborative of Claremont. “We are proud of our work with Jamboree to make Larkin Place a reality,” he says. “We knocked on doors, dispelled misinformation, and took part in countless conversations about the opportunity and responsibility to site supportive housing in our community.”
Larkin Place is Jamboree’s second affordable housing development in Claremont. (The first, Courier Place, was built in 2011 and added 74 high-quality affordable apartments for families and seniors earning 30-50% of Area Median Income, or AMI.) When completed in 2025, the four-story building at Larkin Place will feature 8 studios, 24 one-bedroom apartments, and a two-bedroom manager’s unit. Targeted towards individuals earning 30% of the AMI in Los Angeles County, the development addresses the critical need for housing for those experiencing chronic homelessness.
In addition to amenities including a community room and BBQ area, Larkin Place provides residents with access to a range of on-site services, including case management, peer support, individual and group therapy, recovery support, and help in building life skills. Wrap-around supportive services are essential to building a permanent path out of homelessness.
“I look forward to welcoming our new neighbors at Larkin Place,” says former Mayor and current City Councilmember Jennifer Stark. “Our efforts here truly reflect who we are as a community.”
Jamboree CEO Laura Archuleta agrees. “As we break ground on this vital development, we shatter myths surrounding homelessness. Let’s debunk misconceptions of why people are homeless and address the root cause: the dire need for housing.”
