Blackburn’s homes are in Venice, Mar Vista, Cheviot Hills and Mid City; the sober apartments are in West Los Angeles. We have no homes in South LA. This page is for men from Leimert Park, West Adams, Watts, Florence-Graham, Westmont, Willowbrook, View Park-Windsor Hills and Ladera Heights. Some of these neighborhoods are among the closest places in the county to our homes, roughly 5 to 17 miles away by road (approximate figures).
For the apartments, schedule an apartment tour.
South LA, closer than people think
South LA mixes City of Los Angeles neighborhoods with unincorporated county communities, and the western part of it borders the Westside directly. Approximate road miles from Mar Vista:
- Ladera Heights: about 6,700 residents, roughly 5 miles (Census Bureau 2022 estimate via LA Almanac)
- View Park-Windsor Hills: about 12,000, roughly 7 miles (same source)
- Leimert Park: about 15,900, roughly 8 miles (LA County Countywide Statistical Area table, 2020)
- West Adams: about 26,500, roughly 10 miles (same source)
- Westmont: about 35,300, roughly 11 miles (Census Bureau 2022 estimate via LA Almanac)
- Florence-Graham: about 63,100, roughly 15 miles (same source)
- Watts: about 42,700, roughly 16 miles (LA County Countywide Statistical Area table, 2020); Willowbrook about 22,500, roughly 17 miles (Census Bureau 2022 estimate via LA Almanac)
In our estimates, Ladera Heights is about as close to Mar Vista as Westwood or Santa Monica. These figures are approximate, so check a map for the exact route.
Getting from South LA to the Westside
South LA is crossed by several of the county’s newer rail lines and long east to west bus routes.
- Metro K Line. Runs through Leimert Park, Crenshaw, Inglewood and Westchester, and meets the E Line at Expo/Crenshaw (Los Angeles Metro). From there, the E Line goes west to Culver City, Palms and Santa Monica. For Leimert Park, View Park-Windsor Hills, Ladera Heights and Westmont, this is the main rail link.
- Metro C Line. Runs east to west through the Watts and Willowbrook area between Norwalk and the LAX/Metro Transit Center, where it meets the K Line.
- Metro 111. Runs along Florence Avenue from Norwalk Station to the LAX/Metro Transit Center, passing through Florence-Graham.
- Metro 108. Runs along Slauson Avenue all the way west to Marina del Rey, a direct bus to the Westside coast.
- Metro 110. Runs along Gage Avenue and Jefferson Boulevard to Playa Vista.
Our data shows these lines by corridor, not by stop, so confirm your nearest station or stop on metro.net. West Adams has no single cited line in our data, so check metro.net for the best connection to the E Line from your block.
Why South LA men choose a Westside home
From South LA, a move to the Westside does not mean leaving the neighborhood behind. It means sleeping a few miles away. That is often exactly enough. Your family, your friends and your job can stay within reach, while the block where trouble started is no longer outside your door.
The rail lines make that balance work. A man from Leimert Park can ride the K Line to see his mother on Sunday and be back on the Westside for an evening meeting. Someone from Watts can use the C Line and K Line to get to work near the airport. Being close keeps those connections easy without keeping the old routine.
Some men also come after treatment on the Westside, wanting to stay near their outpatient team and the recovery community they have just found.
Two kinds of sober housing
Sober living is where most men start: 3 drug tests a week, a daily alcohol test, medication management systems and weekly updates to families and treatment teams. Residents work full time or study at local colleges, and you can tour a home in person or virtually.
The sober apartments for men are independent living in West Los Angeles. Each guest gets a furnished place, month to month, with utilities and WiFi included and weekly random drug and alcohol testing. No curfew and no overnight permission. They are open to anyone who qualifies. Schedule an apartment tour, or call or text (888) 305-5422.
For South LA families and referring professionals
Families in South LA are close enough to visit often, and a virtual tour of sober living is available if that is easier at first. Once he is in one of our homes, families, providers and treatment teams get weekly updates. The free virtual family support group meets every other Tuesday, 6 to 7 PM Pacific, led by a licensed therapist from Blackburn Clinical Services. Treatment teams can keep seeing a client after he moves, since the distance is short. More on our families page and the treatment professionals page.
If you need county-funded care, the Substance Abuse Service Helpline is 1-800-854-7771, option 2 (LA County Substance Abuse Prevention and Control).
Questions from South LA
How do I get from Leimert Park to the Westside by train?
Take the Metro K Line to Expo/Crenshaw and switch to the E Line heading west toward Culver City and Santa Monica.
Is there a bus from Florence-Graham to the Westside?
Metro 108 runs along Slauson Avenue all the way to Marina del Rey, and Metro 111 runs along Florence Avenue to the LAX/Metro Transit Center. Check metro.net for the stop nearest you.
Will living on the Westside cut me off from my family in Watts?
It does not have to. Watts is roughly 16 miles away, and the C Line connects to the K Line and then the E Line. Many men visit family regularly.
Can I go from sober living to the apartments later?
Yes. That is the most common path. Many men move into the apartments once they are ready for more independence.
Nearby places and regions
South LA does not have its own place pages yet. Nearby: Inglewood, Hawthorne, Westchester, Culver City and our Mid City home. Neighboring regions: Westside, South Bay, Gateway Cities and Downtown and Central LA. Back to all areas in Los Angeles County.
For the apartments, schedule an apartment tour.