Esperanza Community Housing Corp

Vice President Joe Biden toured a low-income housing project Friday in South Los Angeles and announced that the federal government will offer nearly $100 million in stimulus funds to help eliminate dangerous lead-based paint and other health hazards from low-income homes. "This is a particular plague that adversely hurts children under 6," Biden told a crowd of residents and community leaders gathered in the courtyard of the Esperanza Community Housing Corp. He was joined by Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, Rep. Xavier Becerra (D-Los Angeles)

Vice President Joe Biden toured a low-income housing project Friday in South Los Angeles and announced that the federal government will offer nearly $100 million in stimulus funds to help eliminate dangerous lead-based paint and other health hazards from low-income homes. "This is a particular plague that adversely hurts children under 6," Biden told a crowd of residents and community leaders gathered in the courtyard of the Esperanza Community Housing Corp. He was joined by Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, Rep. Xavier Becerra (D-Los Angeles)

It seemed Raul Morales' dream of running his own business had come to a painful end last year when a group of men robbed and beat him as he sold tacos and burritos on the streets of South Los Angeles. His father, a restaurant owner in Mexico, had always told Morales: "It's better to own a bad business than to have a good job." But it was Morales' third robbery in two years and he couldn't put himself at risk anymore.

For more than a dozen mostly immigrant entrepreneurs, the opening of the Mercado La Paloma near Exposition Park is a first chance to run a formal business here. It's an opportunity that comes with plenty of hand-holding such as subsidized rent, financial consulting and joint delivery service.

For more than a dozen mostly immigrant entrepreneurs, the opening of the Mercado La Paloma near Exposition Park is a first chance to run a formal business here. It's an opportunity that comes with plenty of hand-holding such as subsidized rent, financial consulting and joint delivery service.

A day care center offering child care at $40 a week is opening today at the Esperanza Community Housing Corp. in Central Los Angeles. Esperanza is a nonprofit organization that provides affordable housing to low-income families and is helping 500 residents in Los Angeles, said volunteer Aracely Sanchez. The day care center will be run by Esperanza and USC's School for Early Childhood Education, Sanchez said.

FESTIVAL Esperanza Community Housing Corp. presents a free family festival Saturday, 12:30-4 p.m. 3655 S. Grand Ave., L.A. (213) 748-7285. POETRY Grand Marnier sponsors "Speak Eazy," an evening of poetry readings. Thursday at Luna Park, West Hollywood. (310) 652-0611. BOOKS Don Winslow signs his new book, "California Fire and Life," Tuesday at Barnes & Noble, 1201 Third Street Promenade, Santa Monica. (310) 260-9110. VOLUNTEERS The L.A.

Housing and Urban Development Secretary Andrew Cuomo on Friday awarded grants to local groups to remove lead-based paint and raise awareness of lead poisoning. Cuomo granted $100,000 to the Esperanza Community Housing Corp. of Los Angeles, a nonprofit organization that will start a lead awareness program that will focus on low-income children and their families in South-Central Los Angeles.

Eight grants totaling $260,000 have been awarded to Los Angeles-area educational, social, economic and environmental justice programs by the Catholic Campaign for Human Development. The funds are part of $10 million granted to 306 projects throughout the nation by the campaign, which is marking its 29th anniversary. Father Robert J.

The California Community Foundation announced Monday that it awarded a total of $733,250 in grants to seven local nonprofit organizations. The grants ranged from $25,000 to $250,000 and were based on competitive proposals submitted during the quarter, said spokesman Allan Parachini. The foundation's mission is to enhance social services, increase public awareness and civic engagement, and improve local health and living conditions.

It seemed Raul Morales' dream of running his own business had come to a painful end last year when a group of men robbed and beat him as he sold tacos and burritos on the streets of South Los Angeles. His father, a restaurant owner in Mexico, had always told Morales: "It's better to own a bad business than to have a good job." But it was Morales' third robbery in two years and he couldn't put himself at risk anymore.

The Nissan Foundation has given $76,000 to the Urban League and two other South-Central organizations in its first awards to community groups. The foundation was established after last year's riots with a $5-million pledge from the Nissan Motor Corp. The Urban League received a $25,000 grant to support its Entrepreneurial Center, which helps develop minority-owned businesses.

Re "Family Faces Loss of Home Over Signature," Sept. 16: The Yancy family has a 10-year history of compliance with integrity to the HUD Section 8 regulations. Surely, David Clark, acting Section 8 director for the L.A. Housing Authority, can make a ruling that reflects the "compassionate conservative" pledge of this administration because this is a "local decision by local officials," per Larry Bush, a HUD spokesman. "HUD rules allow the Housing Authority to take this step but it is not mandated by HUD."