BOND MONEY POOL RUNS LOW.

Byline: EUGENE TONG Staff Writer

BURBANK -- For backing single-family homes in the San Fernando Valley and subsidized apartments in Glendale, governments and nonprofit groups in Los Angeles County received $42.9 million in state bond money Tuesday intended to spur development of low-income housing.

The money is part of more than $210.7 million awarded statewide by the California Department of Housing and Community Development -- funds from the $2.1 billion Proposition 46 housing bond voters approved in 2002.

Among the recipients: Los Angeles received nearly $3.58 million for adding 897 affordable units. Lancaster took $312,000 for a 72-unit project.

Glendale received $312,000 for approving a 64-unit subsidized apartment complex near the local train station, and the award will be spent on the new Adams Square Community Library, officials said.

In the Valley, Los Angeles Neighborhood Housing received $480,000 for its North Hills Villas project -- 30 subsidized single-family homes scheduled to be completed by the end of the year.

But during the award ceremony at Casa de la Providencia in Burbank, an apartment complex for the disabled developed with the bond money, state Sen. Alan Lowenthal, D-Long Beach, warned the funds will run out by the end of the year.

He urged support of a $2.85 billion housing bond appearing on the state ballot in November.

``By the end of 2006, we will pretty much have exhausted all the funds and all the programs,'' Lowenthal said. ``For the benefit of California, for economic competitiveness and for the quality of life of our residents, we have to continue the affordable housing engine.''

The Los Angeles City Council also is trying to place a $1 billion bond on the ballot to finance housing for the homeless, low-income rentals and first-time home buyer incentives. They must vote to submit the bond measures by Aug. 4.

State Sen. Jack Scott, D-Pasadena, highlighted the local housing crunch, citing the median home price in Los Angeles County that has far exceeded $550,000.

``This means that fewer and fewer people in our population can afford to buy a house,'' he said. ``Something has to be done.''

Scott used the Providencia complex as an example. The 18-unit subsidized apartment operated by United Cerebral Palsy opened in March and has given those with the debilitating neurological disease and others a sense of independence.

Nick Klein, 23, who uses a wheelchair, moved to the building in March when staying at his sister's second-story apartment in Los Feliz proved too difficult.

``I could not bring my wheelchair up,'' he said. ``If I was still living with my sister, I couldn't go anywhere. She was so protective.''

The Ohio native moved to Los Angeles after his mother died. He now pays about $230 a month -- a fraction of his monthly Social Security assistance -- for his own one-bedroom unit fitted for wheelchairs. It's decorated with movie posters and memorabilia, including a medal for participating in the Los Angeles Marathon.

``The first night I was alone, I was a little nervous,'' he said. ``I started thinking about what my mom would think about this. She would love this.''

eugene.tong(at)dailynews.com

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Photo:

State bond funds helped build Casa de la Providencia in Burbank, home to Nick Klein, seen visiting with neighbor Jessica Gould. The 18-unit subsidized building is adapted for use by people with disabilities. It opened in March.

John McCoy/Staff Photographer