LOS ANGELES – Community members showed their support for the City’s purchase of the Mayfair Hotel to be used for permanent interim housing today. Leaders echoed City Council and Mayor Bass’ belief that we need to get Angelenos off the streets and into temporary housing as fast as possible while permanent housing is still being built.
Carlos Vaquerano, CEO, Clínica Romero:
“Clínica Romero is proud to support Mayor Karen Bass’ decision to use the Mayfair Hotel to house some of our homeless population. Homelessness is a crisis that affects every aspect of our city. This is a step in the right direction to alleviate the crisis and provide shelter to the men, women, and children who call the streets home. No one should sleep on asphalt. It not only restores dignity to people but also provides a safe environment. This is the right decision at the right time. Clínica Romero is a federally qualified health center that serves more than 18,000 people in Los Angeles, including homeless patients, the underserved, the immigrant community, and the community at large. Clínica Romero joins Mayor Bass in her efforts and commitment to eradicate homelessness.
Vicenta Martínez, Westlake Resident and Westlake South Neighborhood Council Board Member:
“I support the purchase of the Mayfair Hotel to house homeless people, provide them with services and meals, as well as protection from the heat and cold, and assault and abuse that too often happens when living on the streets. I believe that with the right support people can become stable and productive members of our community. While we may not always know the reasons why someone becomes homeless, we do know that they are part of our society, and deserve a roof over their heads and access to services to help them retake their lives.
Castulo de la Rocha, President and CEO of AltaMed Health Services:
“There is a crisis in our streets right now — one that no organization or individual can tackle alone. We do our part by providing tailored care to each patient, regardless of their ability to pay, and offering guidance to those who need supportive services such as housing, nutritional assistance, and substance use counseling. Our unhoused neighbors need help now, and we support Mayor Bass' efforts to find workable housing solutions in all neighborhoods.”
Amy Turk, CEO, Downtown Women’s Center:
"Mayor Bass is leaving no stone unturned in her efforts to confront homelessness. DWC applauds Mayor Bass' and the City Council’s focus on assertive solutions that bring our unhoused neighbors inside now. When matched with strong supportive services, especially focusing on safety and dignity as were emphasized in our 2022 LA County Women's Needs Assessment, the Mayfair Hotel can be successful in placing people on a path to stable housing.”
Pastor Troy Vaughn, President & CEO, Los Angeles Mission:
“As co-laborers in the fight against poverty and homelessness, we support Mayor Karen Bass’ Inside Safe initiative and thank the City Council for supporting this effort. It is indisputable that it is not possible to stabilize individuals who are unhoused. We agree that the first step on the journey of restoration and rehabilitation begins with housing. As a fixture in Skid Row for over 86 years, we have seen the crisis of homelessness evolve to the degree that the demand for wraparound service hubs - like the one proposed here - warrants our urgent attention. In our experience, to support transformation the resources individuals require must be both dynamic and readily accessible. The Weingart Center’s long standing engagement and successes give further confidence in the stewardship of this site. I am a success of this institution. It was encouraging to learn that this facility will offer a scope of services and insight that complement the needs of those we serve. I trust that this newest operation in Skid Row will become a model to signal a series of much-needed investments here at the epicenter of homelessness. We lock arms and stand ready to support transformation in the lives of individuals and in this community.”
Jocelyn Duarte, Executive Director, Salvadoran American Leadership and Educational Fund (SALEF):
"We are invested in effective solutions that address the homelessness crisis in our city. We support creating housing solutions with comprehensive programming that deal with the multitude of challenges that people experiencing homelessness face. We are strong advocates in leading the work to address the Intersection of immigration and homelessness."