Los Angeles city and county leaders on Thursday celebrated a new pilot interim housing program for the homeless in partnership with Metro, as homeless people regularly use the system’s services.
The Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority’s Welcome Navigation Center in South LA is a 24-hour center that addresses physical and mental health, with an emphasis on permanent housing.
Dr. Va Lecia Adams Kellum, CEO of the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority, said the center emphasizes welcoming people, where people can get better and “get documents ready” to move into permanent housing as quickly as possible.
“We are very excited about the partnership with Metro as we will ensure that some of the people who are on the trains in this area and get to the end of the line will be welcomed day and night. They will be able to turn their lives around.” and move towards sustainability,” says Kellum.
Mayor Karen Bass said partnerships, especially the city-county-metro partnership, are another important solution to the crisis on the streets of Los Angeles.
“It is also a collaboration with Metro. “Prior to the recent spike in violence on the line, homelessness on public transport was the number one issue we faced, whether on trains, stations or buses,” Bass said. .
“It’s a way to provide services to people who use the line and the stations primarily for housing, and this is a perfect example, it’s an example of the partnership we talked about at the Metro Board meetings.”
Sharon Gookin, Metro’s deputy CEO, said that since 2018, Metro has helped more than 4,700 people experiencing homelessness on public transit find shelter and permanent housing.
“And with LAHSA committed to providing 24/7 temporary shelter beds, we can fill an important gap that allows us to help those in need, even in the middle of the night when many of our buses and trains are out of service.” Gookin said.
The welcome center can accommodate 84 people at any time. To date, the center has supported 200 people, with 12 people moved into permanent housing. According to reception center staff, fifty people have moved to temporary housing.
City and county departments, along with service providers, provide physical and mental health care and other support, and transportation for appointments is provided. Staff provide employment assistance and document readiness to expedite placement of permanent housing.
