A Bridge Home Venice Beach
Overview
In February 2020, the City of Los Angeles opened its 10th “A Bridge Home” facility in Venice for people experiencing homelessness. The facility shelters 100 men and women in a large white tent, and 54 transitional-age youth (18-24) in bungalows.
Context:
- Launched in 2018 to shelter over 3k people, the Mayor’s A Bridge Home program is designed to be an alternative to encampments – providing a “bridge” between street homelessness and long-term housing. Per city council discussions, bridge housing in Los Angeles will be most successful ‘when people move quickly through bridge housing facilities and into long-term housing’, freeing up beds in bridge housing and allowing more people to move off the street.
- Pacific Sunset is the first ‘A Bridge Home’ site to be partially dedicated to serving young people experiencing homelessness (source).
Mission: Provide an alternative to encampments to help move people off the streets, through bridge housing facilities, and into long-term housing.
Site
Owner: Land owned by The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro), a regional transportation planning agency. Metro directly operates bus, light rail, heavy rail and bus rapid transit services.
Previous Use: Bus service lot, parking lot
Use Arrangement: 3-year lease between Metro (site owner) and LA City, subleased (zero cost) to PATH to operate the facility, to begin upon c/o issuance.
Site Selection Criteria Considerations: City Council District 11’s choice for the “A Bridge Home” Program, an initiative calls on all 15 Council Districts to identify a site or building adjacent to a high-density homeless population for housing (learn more).
Site Selection Notes
- Site selection process:
- Mayor announced “A Bridge Home” Program, calls on City Council Districts to find sites, provides list of publicly-owned sites in each district
- District offices survey community for input
- Subject Metro-owned site identified as possibility due to current under utilization and proximity to highest concentration of unsheltered people
- City council district office and Mayor host a townhall for feedback on site, present initial site plan
- LA City’s Bureau of Engineering (BOE) completed a site inspection and feasibility plan to move forward
- Plans for the Venice shelter triggered a lawsuit by an advocacy group, the Venice Stakeholders Assn., arguing that the city and other government agencies had failed to properly review how “this large and extraordinary project” would affect the neighborhood.
- A Superior Court judge ruled against the group, citing a state law, championed by Assemblyman Miguel Santiago (D-Los Angeles), that exempts any shelter or homeless housing project in Los Angeles from the California Environmental Quality Act if it receives funding from key state and local sources.
Funding
Upfront Development* | $8.6 million | $5.6 million from City, $3 million from California Community Foundation Grant |
Cost Per Bed* | $56k | 154 beds in total |
Operating Costs* | $3.4 million/year | Funding from CA State (via HEAP in 2019 and 2020; HHAP in 2021), funds go to Los Angeles City and County, which is disbursed and managed by LAHSA (LA’s CoC) -(source) $60/bed/night from City’s A Bridge Home Program (managed by LAHSA). Funding contribution for this particular site is $10 from City fund and $50 from Measure H. |
Cost Per Bed* | $22k/year | $60/bed/night (blended adults + youth) |
*approximations
Funding Notes
- $5+ million City funding sources: $2.8 million from Homeless Services Program Fund, $1.3 million from the Crisis and Bridge Housing Fund, $815,011 from the Homeless Emergency Aid Program Grant Fund
- Program services funding provided by HEAP (2019,2020) and then HHAP (2021)
- City Council instruct the City Administrative Officer (CAO) to
submit to the Homeless Strategy Committee (HSC) for review a funding request totaling $1,000,000 for shared housing placement services for Venice Bridge Home clients - The City pays for the Furniture, Fixtures and Other Equipment (FF&E) required to provide services at the facility (C.F, 18-0510). Either the service provider or the City procures the furniture and fixtures (source).
- Funds were requested to be set aside from the State’s FY 2019–20 Homeless Budget allocation to the City to provide for shared housing placements for individuals at the Venice Bridge Home.
Additional Funding Notes
- HHAP – This year, as part of the State’s Fiscal Year (FY) 2019-20 Budget, the State set aside $650 million in one-time funding for the construction and expansion of emergency shelters and
navigation centers, rapid rehousing, permanent supportive housing, job programs, and for innovative projects like hotel/motel conversions. The Homeless Housing, Assistance, and
Prevention Program (HHAPP) will make available $275 million to large cities, with a significant portion going to Los Angeles. - HEAP – Prior state funds for emergency shelters were provided by the 2018-enacted HEAP funding allocations (link).
Development
Lead Deal Coordinator | ![]() | City of Los Angeles |
Community Engagement | ![]() | Mayor Garcetti’s Office and Local City Council District (CD11 – Councilmember Mike Bonin) |
Construction Management | ![]() | The Bureau of Engineering (BOE) is providing project design and management oversight of the City’s GSD Construction Forces to complete the project |
Shelter Vendor / Manufacturer | ![]() | Sprung Structure for 100-bed tent Design Space Modular for the 54-bed modular units |
On-Site Assembly | ![]() | LA City’s General Services Department (overseen by BOE) – Construction Forces Division |
Design Notes
Overview
- The design includes 100 beds within the membrane structure, 54 additional beds in youth trailers, a hygiene trailer, a youth hygiene trailer, 154 60-gallon storage containers, a free-standing shade structure, an administration trailer, and an exterior dining area. Other features include an outdoor pet area, bike racks, a smoking area and general open space.
- Utilities: Central bathroom unit connected to municipal water, sewer, power (~$100k upfront cost)
- Design priorities is maximizing bed space capacity on the site
- Modular trailer provider, Design Space Modular, is same as prior A Bridge Home projects
Process
- BOE’s feasibility study includes the initial design and site plan
- Kickoff design meeting includes service provider of programmatic feedback
- Council office can customize color scheme and vendor provider
Operations
Lead Operators:
+
Operator | People Assisting the Homeless (PATH) – PATH is dedicated to ending homelessness for individuals, families, and communities. PATH accomplishes this by building affordable housing and providing supportive services throughout California. The facility is also staffed by Safe Place for Youth (SPY). SPY’s mission is to inspire, nurture, and empower the resilient human spirit of homeless youth by providing immediate and lasting solutions, one young person at a time. | |
Agreement | 3-year lease between Metro (site owner) and LA City, subleased (zero cost) to PATH to operate the facility, to begin upon c/o issuance. PATH is pursuant to a service contract with the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority (LAHSA)’s ‘A Bridge Home Projects’ Scope of Required Services, Facility Standards and Program Standards documentation. | |
Staffing |
| |
Services Provided | PATH provides wraparound services, which include intensive case management, linkages to medical and mental health support, groups and classes for self- awareness. In addition, we focus on housing navigation and employment assistance such as resume building, interview preparation. These services are designed to help people move into – and stay – in permanent housing. SPY, in an agreement with PATH, operates the case management services for the youth population. | |
Cost |
| |
Operating Expenses |
|
Operation Notes
- PATH is a nonprofit that has done work with the City of Los Angeles in the past
- Local preference policy at shelters
- 6 feet distance between residents
Relevant Materials
Sublease Authorization (Between City and Operator): https://clkrep.lacity.org/onlinedocs/2018/18-0510_rpt_MFC_07-11-2019.pdf