In October 2025, a case worker found 80-year-old Tatsuya Kataoka on the street in Gardena and soon realized he spoke fluent Japanese and little English. The case worker placed him at the Beacon Light Mission Shelter in Wilmington, and reached out to Lila Omura, a homeless housing navigator for the City of Redondo Beach, who became his new case worker. 

“They reached out to me because I’m Japanese; even though I don’t speak it,” Omura said.  

Before landing on the street, Kataoka had been living with a friend in Gardena for more than 30 years. When the friend moved into assisted living in September of 2025, Kataoka found himself displaced. “I couldn’t continue living there, but I had nowhere else to go,” said Kataoka.

Omura began searching for a place for Kataoka to live, but the language barrier made it challenging. Lila shared these challenges on social media, and a translator named Coco reached out to Omura on Instagram and drove from Menifee to the South Bay to help Kataoka. 

Kataoka was temporarily placed in a shelter in Gardena but was told that nonveterans would be sent to skid row.

 Omura tried to move Kataoka to the Redondo Beach pallet shelter, but because he wasn’t a city resident, they couldn’t accommodate him. Also, the pallet shelter was at capacity. 

Omura continued searching for senior housing options. She inquired with various organizations, local and outside the South Bay. 

Tatsuya Kataoka is now living at SagePoint, a 56-unit supportive housing community for seniors in Wilmington.

Eventually, Ramon Rendon at Harbor Interfaith matched Kataoka with, SagePointe, an apartment complex in Wilmington for seniors experiencing homelessness. To be considered, Kataoka had to meet a certain threshold for hearing and mobility impairment, which he did. 

Financial assistance through the South Bay Cities Council of Governments (SBCCOG) Client Aid Program provided Kataoka with a security deposit to move into SagePointe. 

According to the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority (LAHSA), the 2025 Greater Los Angeles Homeless Count data reports 26% of the total homeless population in LA County is age 55 and over. In the South Bay region, the report shows this percentage is higher, with adults aged 55 and over comprising 28% of the total homeless population.

“It’s really good to be living here now,” Kataoka said, smiling.  

Throughout the process, Omura grew closer to Kataoka. Her mother has also been spending time with him. 

“We’ve picked him up and taken him to Church with us. She takes him to the Japanese grocery market in Torrance,” said Omura.  

Kataoka expressed gratitude to Lila and the SBCCOG.  

“It feels comfortable living here, and nothing is concerning anymore,” Kataoka said.  •