Los Angeles, CA–It has been almost a year since LAPD denoted fireworks in a residential neighborhood in the Ninth District, that injured 17 people and forced residents to relocate from their damaged homes.
The Trinity Neighborhood Center opened this week to provide support and resources for residents who are still dealing with the after effects of the blast.
The center has brought various City departments and local organizations under one roof to help Ninth District residents obtain additional services and support.
City Councilman Curren Price joined the Community Investment for Families Department (CIFD) and All Peoples Community Center (All Peoples) yesterday for a resource fair at the Trinity Neighborhood Center, which is located at Walker Temple AME Church in District 9.
“Today’s opening of the Trinity Neighborhood Center shows yet again the continued commitment by Council District Nine to achieve a full recovery for this impacted community,” said EMD General Manager Carol Parks.
The new community hub is part of Councilman Price’s commitment to providing support to the 27th Street neighborhood impacted by LAPD’s 2021 fireworks explosion.
Following the explosion, Price established a $1 Million emergency relief fund, and followed with advocating for another $5 million to help CD9 residents with longer-term resources including home repairs, financial assistance, housing as well as establishing the Trinity Resource Center.
“As we approach the one-year anniversary of this catastrophe, we’re reminded that neighbors continue to face residual trauma and long-term effects,” said Councilmember Price. “We remain committed to seeing this tragedy through until every last person is back on their feet. We are far from where we need to be as a neighborhood and as a City, but today we take another step in the right direction.”
The Trinity Neighborhood Center is open five days a week, and will provide residents with direct access to a wide range of free services including:
- Case management
- Resources such as food and diapers
- Rental or utility assistance
- Tutoring
- Tax services
- Employment resources
- Immigration services
- Financial literacy
- Parenting classes
In addition, licensed mental health therapists will be available onsite, in collaboration with mental health providers in the area, including Kedren Health.
All Peoples was designated by CIFD to operate the Trinity Neighborhood Center. Since the explosion, All Peoples has served as a community liaison, providing case management and helping District 9 residents who were victims of the blast obtain social services.
Support has included assisting households with food and relocation efforts, connecting families with mental health services as well as eviction defense programs.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms (ATF) released their final report Sep. 2021, regarding the explosion on 27th Street. The report confirmed that the cause of the explosion “was a result of human error when officers miscalculated the weight of the explosives placed into the Total Containment Vessel (TCV) resulting in its catastrophic failure.”
Several families impacted by the explosion have filed a lawsuit against the City of Los Angeles.
“The Community Investment for Families Department, in partnership with Councilman Curren Price and All Peoples Community Center, will continue to address the unique needs of each individual household impacted by this incident,” said CIFD General Manager Abigail R. Marquez. “We have not abandoned these families and are committed to helping all displaced households transition to permanent and stable housing.”
The Trinity Neighborhood is open Monday through Friday at Walker Temple AME Church (2525 Trinity St., Los Angeles 90011).
For more information, contact All Peoples at (213) 300-0784 or (213) 536-5030.
Read More: Update On Explosion Involving Illegal Fireworks on 27th Street
