Alfred Adkins, 65, moved into his new apartment Thursday thanks to the "Roadmap to Housing" program, which finds permanent housing for people living in vehicles in and around Venice.
It's a joint venture between the city of Los Angeles and the group PATH - People Assisting The Homeless.
Adkins signed his lease alongside City Councilman Bill Rosendahl.
"It's hard to put together first and last and everything to get an apartment. Thanks to all the effort of all the people and my heroes over here," said Adkins.
Adkins is the second person to be placed in housing under the new program, and many more will follow.
Some Venice residents said the homeless problem there is unavoidable.
"In the eight years I've been here, it's the most people I've ever seen here on the boardwalk on a daily basis," said Eric Czar of Venice.
PATH has already lined up housing for more than a third of the 126 people living in vehicles who have signed up.
