The first phase of a supportive housing development for individuals who previously experienced homelessness opened Tuesday in East Hollywood.
"Homelessness is the humanitarian crisis of our time, and we will only end it by building as much supportive housing as we can, as quickly as we can," Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti said at the grand opening of PATH Metro Villas. "We will overcome this challenge -- project by project, and door by door -- and days like this remind us what's possible when everyone works together."
The David T.C. Ho Family Building now open at 345 N. Westmoreland Ave. includes 33 studio apartments, 31 one-bedroom units and one two-bedroom manager apartment, community rooms, counseling and case management offices, and a Veterans Connections Center for veteran services.
On-site services include case management, job training, kitchen, health and wellness programs, a bike share program and four full-time PATH staffers.
A second phase of construction expected to be completed in 2020 will expand the facility to 187 affordable housing units, plus a primary healthcare clinic and mental health clinic.
Funding for the development is a collaboration among private and public partners including the California Department of Housing & Community Development, Los Angeles Housing & Community Investment Department, Housing Authority of the City of Los Angeles, Los Angeles County Department of Health Services, JP Morgan Chase Bank, California Community Reinvestment Corporation and Measure H funds.
"We are thrilled to welcome residents to this new community," said PATH CEO Joel John Roberts. "Today's event celebrates the start of a new journey for our residents, as well as the culmination of an incredible collaboration among many organizations. It's an honor to work with our partners, including Affirmed Housing and city officials, and I'm glad to be able to recognize them today for their commitment to ending homelessness."
