City of Santa Monica, CA
10/03/2024 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 10/03/2024 10:31
Addressing Homelessness: Santa Monica welcomes 57 people to new supportive housing community The Laurel
October 3, 2024 9:27 AM
SANTA MONICA, Calif. (Oct. 3, 2024) - City leaders, partners and newly-housed residents gathered Wednesday to celebrate the official grand opening of The Laurel permanent supportive housing development.
This city-funded community built by developer EAH Housing is now home to 57 Santa Monicans who were formerly homeless or at risk of losing their housing in Santa Monica.
The Laurel's residents include adjunct professors, art educators, filmmakers and entrepreneurs who faced homelessness due to life-changing events such as job loss, the pandemic, or an apartment fire. More than half are seniors or have disabilities, with many having been homeless in Santa Monica for over a decade. They either work in Santa Monica, became homeless in Santa Monica, have been on Santa Monica streets for years, or are vulnerable individuals who have frequently relied on first responder resources for care on the street.
Seven residents were referred through the Pathway Home program, a city-county partnership for encampment resolution.
"The individuals living at The Laurel have a new lease on life, now that they are housed with easy access to the services that help them reclaim their lives," Santa Monica Mayor Phil Brock said. "We must help those who are suffering on our streets get on a pathway out of homelessness while also mitigating the impacts of homelessness on our business community. This new community is a huge step in the right direction."
The Laurel was funded by an $11.7 million Housing Trust Fund loan from the city of Santa Monica, with continued funding in the form of housing vouchers issued by the Santa Monica Housing Authority. The development brings the city's total permanent supportive housing stock to 181 apartments, with 98 more in development. It's the first fully city-funded permanent supportive housing project to open in Santa Monica in nearly a decade.
"With the opening of The Laurel, 57 vulnerable Santa Monicans now have a safe, stable place to call home," Housing and Human Services Director Heather Averick said. "Permanent Supportive Housing is a vital and necessary tool in our work to address the housing and homelessness crisis in our city. The Laurel is a beautiful example of the city's dedication to creating and sustaining permanent solutions to better improve the quality of life for all Santa Monicans."
Onsite, wrap-around services at The Laurel will be provided by The People Concern, Santa Monica's longtime partner in homeless services and one of Los Angeles County's largest providers of social services to those facing homelessness and domestic violence.
"Providing quality, affordable housing for the nation's most vulnerable residents is a core function of EAH Housing's mission," said Laura Hall, president and CEO of EAH Housing. "The Laurel is a testament to this commitment. We are honored to have worked alongside the city of Santa Monica these past four years to bring our collective vision to fruition. We look forward to creating more thoughtful solutions to address Santa Monica's housing crisis and improve residents' quality of life."
Los Angeles-based architecture firm KFA designed The Laurel, focusing on urban revitalization and sustainability. The C-shaped building surrounds a landscaped courtyard with seating. An elevated patio on the second floor and a third-floor community deck face inward to the central courtyard to promote community interaction.
Learn more about Santa Monica's efforts to provide permanent supportive housing here.
Media Contact
Tati Simonian
Public Information Officer
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