Los Angeles, CA (August 3, 2007) – A new online housing locator service reports outstanding initial results. In just two months after its launch through the Housing Authority of the County of Los Angeles (HACoLA), over 150,000 housing searches have yielded results to HACoLA clients and other users. The service has provided immediate increased program efficiency and received overwhelmingly positive feedback from landlords and voucher holders.

As part of an ambitious Homeless Prevention Initiative approved by the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors in April 2006, an online housing resource center is being implemented to increase access to affordable housing and related resources throughout the County. It is currently in the first phase and available only through HACoLA to assist Section 8 voucher holders in their search for housing. This resource is available both online and by calling a toll-free call center for assistance. Landlords can post detailed listings for their properties at no cost, and tenants can use a free search tool to locate rental housing that meets their needs. Listings are comprehensive and continually updated.

To develop this resource, Los Angeles County contracted with Socialserve.com, a nonprofit organization that builds, implements and maintains affordable housing locator services for over a third of the U.S. population. In addition to providing searchable databases of affordable housing in 20 states, the North Carolina-based Socialserve.com offers a toll-free, bilingual call center to help those who lack access or are not comfortable using the Internet.

For more information, please contact Larry Newnam, the County’s Housing Resource Center contract manager at (323) 838-5037 or by email at larry.newnam@lacdc.org.

For more information about Socialserve.com, please contact Beth Leysieffer or Nina Fedele, 1-877-428-8844.