CITY HALL — Los Angeles City Councilmember Mitch O’Farrell led a unanimous vote Tuesday to approve construction of a temporary bridge housing facility in Hollywood, the second such project to be established as part of Mayor Garcetti’s ‘A Bridge Home’ program to provide emergency housing for our homeless. Construction on the city-owned parking lot at 1533 Schrader Boulevard to begin in October, with the facility projected to open in January 2019.
“The Hollywood Chamber is pleased to hear that the City has moved forward with this critical initiative to bring temporary bridge housing to Hollywood. The Chamber would like to thank Councilmember O’Farrell for introducing the motion to establish this centrally-located facility,” said Leron Gubler, President & CEO of the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce. “Hollywood is in desperate need of transitional and temporary housing, and this project presents a viable solution to this pressing issue.”
The facility will temporarily house up to 70 people at a time; provide on-site supportive services such as case management, mental health services, and substance abuse programs; include 24/7 security; and will bring enhanced resources to the surrounding neighborhood provided by the Los Angeles Bureau of Sanitation, Police Department (LAPD), and Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority (LAHSA). The facility is expected to be operational for approximately three years.
“I want to thank the community for working with my office to make this happen in the 13th District,” said O’Farrell. “The support from area stakeholders, businesses, and organizations underscores the urgent need for a solution to address the homeless crisis across the city.”
As part of the community outreach for the project, Councilmember O’Farrell’s office hosts an ongoing weekly meeting with stakeholders and representatives from the operators who will manage the facility: People Assisting the Homeless (PATH) and The Center at Blessed Sacrament, two experienced service providers with deep roots in Hollywood.
“Thank you to Councilmember O’Farrell for leading this vote and paving a way forward in the community’s effort to solve our homelessness crisis,” said Joel John Roberts, CEO, PATH. “It is up to all of us to take care of those in our community who need it most. And just like with this project, it will take the entire community, elected leaders and nonprofit partners to solve the city’s homelessness crisis once and for all.”
In addition to the Council action Tuesday, O’Farrell introduced a motion requesting reports on establishing Permanent Supportive Housing at the Schrader lot once the bridge housing facility wraps up service in three years (see attachment).
More than three-quarters of Angelenos voted in favor of Measure HHH (2016) to provide funding to construct up to 10,000 units of permanent supportive housing for those experiencing homelessness, and went even further and approved Measure H (2017) to provide funding for on-site services for the permanent housing and shelters. This includes case management, mental health services, substance abuse programs, and employment counseling.
About the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce:
For more than 97 years, the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce has provided leadership, business development resources, networking, and government affairs programs and services to keep the Hollywood business and residential communities safe, relevant and economically vital. Donelle Dadigan is the Chair of the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors 2018-19, and Leron Gubler is the President/CEO of the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce. For more information please visit www.hollywoodchamber.net.
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