Thirteen months after the voters signed a vote on Measure HHH authorizing $1.2 billion in bond money to pay for homeless housing, the first project financed by the initiative was launched in East Hollywood on Wednesday.
Construction marks “a new chapter in our struggle to get Angelenos homeless out of the streets and into homes,” said Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti.
According to the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority, the number of homeless residents in the city now exceeds 34,000—a 20 per cent increase over the previous year. Almost 58,000 residents across the county lack a permanent address.
The city struggled to come up with solutions to the crisis, but put the Measure H bond initiative before the voters last November. It passed more than 76% of the vote.
The new development, which will bring 122 new permanent housing units to the area, is the second phase of a two-part project led by the non-profit housing provider PATH Ventures.
The first part of the project started in April. Located at 340 North Madison Avenue (near Vermont / Beverly Red Line stop), the complex is called PATH Metro Villas and will eventually include a total of 187 apartments, 88 short-stay beds, for the homeless and those likely to be homeless.
Those living in the complex will have access to on-site services, including health and personalized case management.
With work underway on the second stage of development, PATH expects Metro Villas to open in 2019.
The project has been one of nine funded by Measure HHH so far. They will produce a combined 416 units of affordable housing — about 4 percent of the 10,000 official units expect the voting measure to provide financing over the next 10 years.
