Los Angeles County leaders praised the conversion of a West Whittier-Los Nietos Motel 6 into housing for the unhoused on Thursday, April 6, as work on the project got underway.
Using Project Homekey funds, the motel was bought by L.A. County during the coronavirus pandemic, and used as interim housing, will soon be converted into permanent supportive housing.
Created by Gov. Gavin Newsom in 2020, Project Homekey provided grants to counties and cities to buy and renovate hotels, motels, vacant apartment buildings and other sites to convert them into housing for those experiencing homelessness.
The project, known as Laurel Grove, will consist of 97 studio apartments for unhoused individuals and include a pocket park – which will also be open to the surrounding community.
“This is an incredible project,” said Supervisor Janice Hahn on Thursday, April 6, at a ceremonial groundbreaking for the project.
“We’re giving people a chance to have their own apartment with permanent supportive services in one-third of the time and half the cost,” said Hahn, who has praised motel conversions as quick and cost-effective ways to create affordable housing.
Laurel Grove is expected to be completed and housing people in the summer of next year, officials said.
To mark the beginning of construction, Hahn joined the executive director of the L.A. County Homeless Initiative, Cheri Todoroff, and Holos Communities at the yet-to-be repurposed site located along the 605 freeway in unincorporated West Whittier-Los Nietos.
Holos Communities is a non-profit organization dedicated to creating spaces for all people to have opportunities for a fuller life when working to end homelessness, combat global warming, and reverse racial inequity, according to its website.
“Laurel Grove is an example of how government and nonprofits are working together to think outside of the box to respond urgently to the crisis on our streets,” Todoroff said. “This is the first in the county’s Homekey properties to begin the conversion process from interim to permanent housing, so this is really exciting for us.”
The project is using funds from the California Department of Housing and Community Development’s Project Homekey and the County of Los Angeles.
“This is an exciting single-source financing tool in the fight against homelessness,” said Cristian Ahumada, executive director of Holos Communities.
Not having to pay for the demolition of the building, predevelopment, construction and permits, Ahumada said, is what makes a project like Laurel Grove cost-effective and able to quickly become available for those in need.
In Holos Communities’ efforts to reduce the impact of climate change, there will be a graywater system that will help sustain the pocket park. Trees at the park will also reduce pollution and noise pollution from the freeway, Ahumada said.
Many may oppose supportive housing in their communities because of prejudice, Ahumada said in an interview, adding that there are residents who don’t want people with mental health issues or substance abuse issues in their communities.
But residents at Laurel Grove will have all the social services and support they need in their new living situation, he said, through the help of Pacific Clinics – a community-based non-profit provider of behavioral and mental health services and support.
The former motel is across the street from Pioneer High School. Hahn said that the support from the Whittier Unified School District on the project as well as the local West Whittier community has been significant.
“The support we got from the West Whittier residents and the school district makes all the difference in a project like this,” she said. “Everyone benefits when we are able to bring people inside and out of encampments and this community sees this project as a good thing for this neighborhood.”
Monica Oviedo, Whittier Union High School District superintendent, said in October, when talk of the motel conversion first began, that the location had fewer issues as a place for unhoused individuals than when it was a motel.
“Whittier Union High School District is committed to ensuring our students have access to the resources they need to succeed in not only academics but their personal endeavors as well,” Oviedo said in a recent statement. “This includes having access to affordable housing. Whittier Union is supportive of Supervisor Janice Hahn’s efforts in making this a reality. She has always been a strong advocate for our District community, and we are tremendously grateful.”
Laurel Grove, Ahumada said, is also an example of how in Holos Communities’ 80 years of providing safe homes and supportive services for residents that they still want to do more.
“It is essential that we combine our efforts to solve the housing and homeless crisis,” he said, “but also global warming and racial inequity through a holistic approach designed to create opportunities for all Angelenos to lead all their lives.”
At the groundbreaking, Terry – a local resident who found permanent housing through Project Roomkey – shared her story of becoming homeless when her chronic illnesses began to take a toll on her life. With the help of resources such as Project Roomkey and Homekey, she has been able to make progress in her home life.
“These programs do work and they will work, you have to be very patient,” she said. “I’m a living example of the programs at work, I’m glad they’re here because being homeless takes a big toll on your life.”
“We need these programs as they house little bit by bit,” she said, “and that is still good because it will help decrease the number of people homeless.”
