Housing

A 97-year-old homeless woman living with her two sons in a battered 1973 Chevrolet Suburban in Venice has received a temporary home, compliments of a nonprofit Los Angeles housing group. Bessie Mae Berger and sons Larry Wilkerson, 60, and Charlie Wilkerson, 62, had parked nightly on Venice Boulevard after losing their home in Palm Springs and failing to find a place to stay in Northern California. But a Times story on Friday that detailed their plight prompted authorities from the city, L.A. County and the state to step up efforts to assist the trio and led a year-old group, the Integrated Recovery Network, to offer them immediate shelter.

Los Angeles Clippers owner and real estate mogul Donald T. Sterling and his wife, Rochelle, have agreed to a record settlement of more than $2.7-million regarding allegations that they discriminated against African Americans, Latinos and families with children at scores of apartment buildings they own in and around Los Angeles. The settlement, which must be approved by U.S. District Judge Dale S. Fischer, is the largest ever obtained by the Justice Department in a housing discrimination case involving apartment rentals, officials said.

Federal officials on Tuesday announced a new national shelter system to help locate temporary housing for victims of hurricanes and other natural disasters. The shelter system is a key part of preparations for hurricane season, which begins June 1. Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano and Craig Fugate, the new director of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, called for the public to help prepare for storms, mostly by devising family evacuation plans.

Re "Cost of homeless project questioned," May 27 Though concerns about cost are justified, there is data from cities across the country showing that housing chronically homeless people can be cost-effective, saving millions of dollars in public money. As the debate continues on the best way to reduce, prevent and end homelessness in Los Angeles, I sincerely urge building on the successful Project 50. Nan Roman Washington The writer is president of the National Alliance to End Homelessness.

As expected, Los Angeles officials moved Tuesday to delay a vote on a 14-story residential project planned for 3rd Street and Wetherly Drive near Beverly Hills. But City Councilman Ed Reyes did pull out something of a surprise -- by postponing the matter only one week. Because the 95-unit project would be in his district, Councilman-elect Paul Koretz had asked for the opportunity to review it after July 1, when he takes office. Earlier this week, Koretz said the proposal was being rushed to the council in the final days before Councilman Jack Weiss, whom Koretz is replacing, left office.

Bank of America Corp. is suspending its work with the housing affiliate of community organizing group ACORN. The decision comes as three Republicans in Congress ask Bank of America and 13 other financial institutions to give Congress a complete accounting of their dealings with the Assn. of Community Organizations for Reform Now or its affiliates. In a statement, Bank of America said it would not enter into any further agreements with ACORN Housing Corp. until the bank is satisfied all issues have been resolved.

Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas inaugurated the most ambitious Palestinian housing construction project in the West Bank, which aims to build 30,000 homes in the next five to 10 years. A newly tarred road led Abbas' motorcade to a site among hills of olive groves near the city of Jenin where housing for 5,000 people will be built. Large-scale organized housing projects are new to the territory. Hundreds of thousands of Palestinians live in unplanned towns lacking proper infrastructure.