A New Chapter

I am pleased to announce that Clifford Beers Housing will, henceforth, be known as Holos Communities. Inspired by the Greek word meaning “whole” or “all”, Holos manifests the creation of new, holistic paths for developing communities as living ecosystems. These paths will advance solutions for the multiplicity of challenges ahead — the lack of housing, global warming, racial and environmental inequity, and the displacement of small and BIPOC-owned businesses. For too long we have attempted to resolve these issues through disparate strategies and mutually exclusive solutions. Our new approach will solve for these challenges, and many more, together because they are inherently inter-connected.

This evolution has been gradual and we are both proud and humbled to have reached this exciting inflection point for our organization. We have embraced a new and inclusive mission of “Creating Spaces for All” and have, accordingly, adopted new core values:

• Eradicating homelessness

• Providing opportunities for fuller lives

• Prioritizing environmental equity and carbon neutrality

• Building in the now, while forging tools for the future; and

• Fearless positivity

Since our founding in 2005 from Mental Health America Los Angeles, we started with the relatively simple mission of developing permanent supportive housing for the most vulnerable. Inspired by Clifford Beers’ 1908 autobiography, “A Mind that Found Itself”, we operated on the belief that permanent housing is key for individual health and well-being. As we now too have found ourselves, much like Clifford Beers did, we have realized that providing housing and services are just not enough. People need clean air to breathe, clean water to drink, a feeling of personal security and that our basic needs are met equitably — I believe Clifford Beers would be proud of our evolution to Holos Communities and providing opportunities for all to lead fuller lives.

- Cristian Ahumada
CEO, Holos Communities