LOS ANGELES – Mayor Karen Bass attended a ribbon cutting ceremony hosted by Councilmember Eunisses Hernandez to celebrate the opening of Northeast New Beginnings, a first-of-its-kind model of interim shelter in Cypress Park. Los Angeles County Supervisor Hilda Solis, Los Angeles Homeless Service Authority (LAHSA) CEO Dr. Va Lecia Adams Kellum, City Engineer Ted Allen, CEO of John Wesley Health Centers Al Ballesteros, representatives from the City of Los Angeles, County of Los Angeles, service providers and community members also joined the celebration of the new site. Northeast New Beginnings will open its doors to residents next week.
“We know how much housing we need in Los Angeles and we are going to continue the partnership that we've built over the last year to continue delivering housing,” said Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass. “That’s why I stand here with Councilwoman Hernandez, and I am delighted to begin year two in this way at a ribbon cutting. I look forward to doing this as many days in a week as possible until we get all Angelenos off the street because it is unacceptable to live in the nation's second largest city in the richest country in the history of the world and to spend an evening on the street hoping you survive until the morning. We can no longer continue to do this.”
“Northeast New Beginnings is a first of its kind model of interim housing that will provide intensive, wrap-around services to some of our most vulnerable residents in Council District 1,” said Los Angeles City Councilmember Eunisses Hernandez. “This new site is a model for what is possible when we invest in a care-first approach to meet the needs of our constituents. I am grateful for the partnerships at the City and County level and our service provider, John Wesley Health Centers, that made this project a reality. There is no issue more urgent than the housing and homelessness crisis in Los Angeles and we will continue to work together to build more sites like Northeast New Beginnings that prioritize the health, safety, and wellbeing of our communities.”
“I am glad that Northeast New Beginnings considers some of the best lessons learned from the COVID-19 pandemic to ensure that we serve people experiencing homelessness with dignity and respect,” said Los Angeles County Supervisor Hilda L. Solis. “Amenities such as in-unit bathrooms, a dog run, and laundry service on-site show our unhoused neighbors that we are willing and able to provide safe, clean, and dignified interim housing which will serve as a stepping stone on their path to permanent housing. As the City and County of Los Angeles continue to work together to solve homelessness, I am thrilled to see that our efforts are already bearing fruit.”
“The Bureau of Engineering is pleased to join Mayor Bass and Councilmember Hernandez today to celebrate the grand opening of Northeast New Beginnings, the 12th Tiny Home Village to be built by our team since 2021,” said Ted Allen, City Engineer, City of Los Angeles. “This community is unique in that it is the City’s first site to use a pre-manufactured, residential prototype. As we continue to create communities that people want to live in, these units have outdoor decks, bright, welcoming colors, outdoor spaces with shade and seating and the entire site has a path of travel that is accessible on a wheelchair. We believe this community brings a new model for safe, accessible, community-based housing for our Los Angeles neighbors.”
“We are thankful for the leadership of Councilmember Eunisses Hernandez, her staff and LAHSA,” said Al Ballesteros, CEO of John Wesley Health Centers. “Our partnership with the City will provide for comprehensive health and mental health services for those coming off the streets and we hope that will provide them an opportunity for a New Beginning.”
For more information about Northeast New Beginnings, click here.