LOS ANGELES – Mayor Karen Bass today announced that the City of Los Angeles successfully secured funding in the Fiscal Year 2023-2024 state budget to cover security improvements and renovations at housing sites across the city.
The Mayor’s Office coordinated with City Council Offices and the Los Angeles delegation of the California State Legislature to identify projects that needed targeted funding solutions to bring more people inside who are currently living on the streets in tents and encampments.
Mayor Bass announced this strategic funding alongside state and local leaders and community partners at the Travelodge Motel in Chatsworth, which provides life-saving interim housing for Angelenos and is one of the sites to receive funding through the state budget.
“This year’s budget reflects our commitment to confronting the number one crisis our city is facing,” said Mayor Karen Bass. "I want to thank Assemblywoman Schiavo, Assemblymember Gabriel, Assemblymember Carrillo, Senator Menjivar and Senator Stern for working together with us to secure critical funds that will be used to make repairs and open more rooms in order to bring more Angelenos inside. I commend the Assembly, Senate and Governor Newsom for passing a budget that continues to strategically fund homelessness solutions in Los Angeles.”
The Mayor, Councilmembers and State Legislators secured funding for the following interim housing sites:
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Travelodge/Devonshire Lodge: The Devonshire Lodge is a former motel acquired through the State’s Homekey program for use as interim housing and conversion to permanent supportive housing. The site is located in Chatsworth and has 75 units. Senator Stern secured $210,000 and Assemblywoman Pilar Schiavo secured $200,000 for the City to fund safety improvements at the motel.
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Huntington Villas: Huntington Villas is a former motel which the City acquired in 2020 for utilization as interim housing and conversion to permanent supportive housing. The site has 52 units and is located near El Sereno. Assemblymember Carrillo secured $500,000 for the City to fund renovations and security improvements to provide interim housing. This includes accessibility upgrades, Fire Life Safety system upgrades, and installation of security fencing.
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The Sieroty/Howard Johnson: The Sieroty is a former motel acquired through the State’s Homekey program for use as interim housing and conversion to permanent supportive housing. The site is located in Reseda and has 75 units of interim housing. Senator Menjivar secured $500,000 and Assemblymember Jesse Gabriel secured $300,000 in funding for the City to help ensure 100% occupancy for interim housing. This includes accessibility upgrades, Fire Life Safety system upgrades, electrical upgrades, and other necessary renovation.
“We need to get our unhoused neighbors off the streets and onto a pathway into permanent housing. I’m proud to have been able to secure $210,000 to ensure that sites like Travelodge in Chatsworth can be up to code and ready for occupancy,” said State Senator Henry Stern.
“It will continue to take all of us, locking arms in these productive partnerships, to confront the housing crisis and to keep up with the ever-increasing need for this basic necessity,” said State Senator Caroline Menjivar. “We are united and prepared for the challenge because every Californian deserves to be safe and housed.”
"I’m happy to join Mayor Karen Bass to combine our efforts to bring real solutions to the homelessness crisis, and we recognize that meaningful change requires collaboration. By combining the efforts of the state and city, we have and will continue to secure the crucial funding necessary to make a tangible impact on the lives of those experiencing homelessness in our communities. With a shared commitment to this cause, we are dedicated to implementing innovative programs and fostering partnerships that includes prioritizing the development of more permanent housing with supportive services, so people don’t fall back into homelessness once they are housed. This is especially meaningful to me having done work I’ve done for years, before entering into the legislature. I am grateful to have been able to secure state funding so we can be in partnership to ensure my own community of Chatsworth is able to be part of the housing solution we need to transform lives and stabilize our communities,” said Assemblywoman Pilar Schiavo.
“We are proud to have worked with Mayor Bass and colleagues in the L.A. County delegation to secure funding for critical projects and initiatives in our Valley communities,” said Assemblymember Jesse Gabriel. “We will continue to work closely with the mayor to ensure that L.A. always has a seat at the table and that the Valley gets its fair share of state resources and funding.”
“I’m proud of the work we have done to create the partnerships necessary across all levels of government to bring solutions to the table that address our housing and homelessness crisis. In partnership with Mayor Bass, my office secured $500,000 in our state budget for the renovation and security of enhancements at Huntington Villas in El Sereno that turned a rundown motel into a place where unhoused families and individuals could seek shelter. What started off as an idea, became Project Roomkey, a successful model that gets people safely inside as we work on permanent housing solutions. Since 2019, the state has invested more than $17 billion to aid local governments in addressing homelessness. The 2021 and 2022 Budget Acts invested a combined $21.5 billion over multiple years to advance the greater availability of housing throughout California. The 2023 Budget largely maintains these commitments and includes a housing package of $14.7 billion with an earmarked $3.5 billion in new funding for homelessness programs,” said Assemblymember Wendy Carrillo.
“Los Angeles’ elected leaders are united in urgency and action to solve homelessness. We are strengthening our collective resources at every opportunity and for every initiative, including transforming underutilized hotels into permanent housing through Project Homekey, from East Hollywood to Chatsworth in my district. The whole of government is showing up to bring our unhoused neighbors inside and supported at every step along their journey,” said Supervisor Lindsey Horvath.
“It is critical that we continue to tackle our city’s homelessness crisis with an all-hands-on-deck approach,” said Councilmember John Lee. “I am grateful to all of the leaders in the California Legislature who have been working diligently to deliver resources that bolster our ability to respond to the homelessness crisis in the San Fernando Valley and throughout Los Angeles.”
“Solving our homelessness crisis means seizing every opportunity we have to secure resources to help people on their journey off the street and indoors,” said Councilmember Nithya Raman. “I am so grateful to Mayor Bass and our state leaders for this critical infusion of funds for lifesaving beds in my district and throughout the city.”