Briefs — Help For Unhoused Residents

LA County Supervisors Back Newsom’s CARE Court Plan

The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors March 15, threw their support behind Governor Newsom’s recently unveiled CARE Court proposal, a new framework to address the growing mental health and homelessness crisis in California.  

The Board unanimously approved a motion which directs the LA County CEO’s office to send a letter of support to the Governor from the Board, directs County departments to assist in the development of the CARE Court program and advocates for the necessary ongoing funding to successfully implement the program. 

Gov. Newsom March 3, announced a new proposal called the Community Assistance, Recovery, and Empowerment or CARE Court which would use the judicial system to compel people suffering from severe mental illness and/or addiction into treatment and, for those who are unhoused, into housing. 

In LA County, Supervisor Hahn has championed local Homeless Courts which use a similar model to the CARE Court to effectively connect people with the care and services they need.   She has supported a Homeless Court program launched by Redondo Beach in 2020,  funded a new Homeless Court in Long Beach, and is helping the City of Torrance start their own Homeless Court this year.

Details:https://tinyurl.com/2p9cxy3x 

Gov. Newsom Announces $181 Million in Awards for 13 New Homekey Projects

SACRAMENTO — Governor Gavin Newsom March 15, announced $181 million in funding for 13 new Homekey projects across the state. When fully operational, the projects will provide 605 housing units for people experiencing, or at risk of experiencing, homelessness.

This announcement, when added to recent Homekey Round 2 awards, means the state has funded 39 projects statewide so far this year, for a total allocation of more than $695 million. The state has already approved projects that – when completed – will create over 2,400 units of housing for Californians most in need of a home.

The awards include the following projects in Los Angeles

• The County of Los Angeles will receive $7.3 million to acquire and rehabilitate a 21-unit former hotel in Redondo Beach, providing permanent supportive housing to chronically homeless households.
• The County of Los Angeles will also receive $25.2 million to acquire and rehabilitate a 76-unit hotel for permanent supportive housing, serving entirely chronically homeless households. The property is centrally located near amenities and is just steps away from a transit station. It is within one-half mile of a grocery store, health facility, and pharmacy. Supportive services include case management, benefits advocacy, payee services, linkage and referrals, medical, mental health and substance abuse linkages.
• The County of Los Angeles will also receive $14.7 million for a 44-unit hotel conversion project in Westlake. The Lyfe Inn will provide interim housing serving medium to large homeless and chronically homeless families.
• The County of Los Angeles has also been awarded $13.8 million to purchase a project that proposes the conversion of a 40-room housing facility located in the heart of the Boyle Heights neighborhood to provide interim housing for youth at-risk of homelessness.
• The Housing Authority of the City of Los Angeles will receive $12 million to acquire a newly constructed 41-unit multifamily housing project for permanent supportive housing. The 6521 Brynhurst project is centrally located to amenities and will be serving homeless and at-risk of homeless households.
• The City of Culver City will receive $26.6 million to acquire and rehabilitate two adjacent motels into 76-units of permanent and interim supportive housing, including two manager units. By co-locating the interim units with permanent supportive housing, the project provides an innovative approach to streamlining service delivery and responding to requests from stakeholders for more coordinated responses to homelessness.