In 1965, concerned residents of the Pico Union neighborhood joined together to share ideas and establish priorities for improving the physical appearance of the community as well as addressing the sociological issues to enhance the sense of family among its residents and community.  One of the first objectives was to develop a community park employing neighborhood youth for the labor and development.  This resulted in a significant decrease in the neighborhood’s crime rate. 

 Spurred by the success of this crime deterrent program, Pico Union Neighborhood Council (PUNC) was formed and granted a three-year cycle grant by the California Council on Criminal Justice to further develop community recreational facilities.  In partnership with the Los Angeles Department of Parks and Recreation, seventeen additional community parks were developed throughout the City of Los Angeles.

 In 1969, PUNC was faced with another challenge, the residents suffered with the zoning changes from residential to mix commercial/industrial.  As a result, many residents were displaced from their homes to make room for the first commercial development, the Pep-Boys mini industrial center.  The residents of the community were outraged and initiated a series of demonstrations to protest the change that resulted in various Federal, State, and Local government agencies combining their funding to assist the area in replacing the demolished housing.  Pico Union Housing Corporation (PUHC) was born out of this movement and was founded in 1971 with the main purpose to address two acute problems affecting the Pico Union community - housing and adult unemployment.  PUHC’s mission statement is no longer limited to its original decree, it has been expanded to include its commitment to cultivate community and economic development projects to improve the socioeconomic level of the area, to address the needs and concerns of residents in the Pico Union area, and to build assets for the community. 

 In 1993, PUHC expanded its boundaries to create affordable housing in other communities including the Temple-Beaudry, Westlake, East Los Angeles, Watts, Hollywood and Adams-Normandie areas. Today a total of 885 units of affordable housing are owned and managed under the PUHC umbrella.  In 1997, PUHC developed the Neighborhood Computer Distant Learning Center that offers residents an opportunity to learn necessary computer and job skills to enter the workforce.  The center has four satellite locations with technologically advanced interactive teleconferencing capabilities.   Besides teaching the most recent computer software, the center also provides adult basic education, GED preparation and instruction, and English classes. 

 The organization represents approximately 6,000 residents and targets 100% of its housing programs to serve very low, low and moderate income families and seniors.  In 1998, the Home Ownership and Restoration Program (HORP) was formed and incorporated into the Pico Union Housing Business Plan.  In the fall of 2003, PUHC opened the Bill Cruz Early Educational Center, a child care center with a capacity to accommodate 100 children.  The next development is the construction of the Reyes Town Homes consisting of 13 town-homes that will be offered to low and moderate income first time homebuyers upon the completion of the 15 year tax credit compliance period.  The town-homes are expected to be finalized in 2006.