WeHo seals deal to turn Holloway Motel into housing for homeless

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The City of West Hollywood has acquired, effective April 12, the Holloway Motel property located at 8465 Santa Monica Blvd., which will operate as the Holloway Interim Housing Program to provide comprehensive services and a space for homeless people to transition into stable housing.

The Holloway Interim Housing Program will provide a space for the homeless to stay 90 days, giving them support and time to transition off the streets and into housing. The property will be managed and operated through a partnership with Ascencia, a nonprofit homeless services agency, which is responsible for providing comprehensive case management and supportive services and upholding safety for program participants.

In the coming months, the city and its architectural and construction partners will focus on completing the design, planning, permitting, and construction process to bring the structure up to code so it is safe for program participants, Ascencia staff, and the surrounding neighborhood.

In June 2022, the City received a State of California Housing and Community Development Homekey grant in the amount of $6,007,661, and the West Hollywood City Council unanimously approved the purchase of the property to be converted into an interim housing program. The Holloway Interim Housing Program will be funded through state and regional resources that are matched by the City’s Affordable Housing Trust Fund.

By purchasing the Holloway Motel, and converting it into interim housing, the City will make significant progress on the goals of its Homeless Initiative, created in 2016, and double the City’s available interim housing beds for adults in an expedient and cost-effective manner. The Holloway Interim Housing Program builds on more than 30 years of City efforts to partner with local agencies to provide social services to the homeless. It is designed to be responsive to the unique needs of its community members, drawing on the City’s proud history of inclusivity and empathy in service delivery.

“The Holloway Interim Housing Program is a collaborative, common-sense solution that responds to community needs,” affirmed Mayor Sepi Shyne. “True stakeholder collaboration is key to the success of this program, and we’re responding to the community’s priorities by directly addressing the issues related to homelessness. This paves the way for city governments to cultivate a nurturing, empathetic community that uplifts and enhances the quality of life for every community member.”

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Community engagement remains a priority as the city progresses with the Holloway Interim Housing Program. The City’s Strategic Initiatives Division staff will continue engaging residents and businesses to share information about the project and its timelines.

To report concerns about a community member who is homeless, call the West Hollywood Homeless Initiative Concern Line at (323) 848-6590. If the concern requires time-sensitive assistance during nights or weekends, please call the West Hollywood Sheriff’s Station at (310) 855-8850.

Additional information can be found at www.weho.org/holloway. For more information about the Homeless Initiative, please contact Corri Planck, City of West Hollywood Strategic Initiatives Manager, at (323) 848-6430 or [email protected]. For people who are Deaf or hard of hearing, please call TTY (323) 848-6496.

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CHLOE ROSS
CHLOE ROSS
1 year ago

This is troubling.If anyone took the time to dig deeply into the psychology/pathology of homelessness and examined the mindsets of many who are long time homeless, it might enlighten cities and governments to what the actual upsides homeless people see in their situation. Particularly those who are also drug users. . Sam Quinones who is an expert in the field, elaborates on these factors in his books and talks. It is not quite the haves giving the have nots a place to live. There are so many other complex issues that become part of life without a roof of your… Read more »

mark feigin
mark feigin
1 year ago

because weho didnt have enough zombie crackhead homeless mentally whack jobs already

mark feigin
mark feigin
1 year ago

democrats are agents of
the devil – all democrats are imbeciles

the fashion refugee
the fashion refugee
1 year ago

What I miss about living in WeHo is the consistency of the civic leaders. If it’s a bad idea, they are on board 100%.

Sharon
Sharon
1 year ago

Look for a new line item in the future on our real estate taxes for the remaining funds to keep this project going…

CHLOE ROSS
CHLOE ROSS
1 year ago

I know one man who has already addressed this issue. No one at the City wanted to listen to him and so they did not reach out to see if he could share his very well studied, well-respected views on the issue. And even without this effort, they could have taken the time to read his books on the subject. It appears that was too much of an effort. as well. The Holloway Hotel will be our own fulfillment of “The best laid plans of mice and men….” and a folly that will have far reaching consequences for the immediate… Read more »

Awareness
Awareness
1 year ago
Reply to  CHLOE ROSS

With the size of the city, there was a real opportunity to be a positive example in resolving the issues of homelessness. However we have a city whose personnel lacks self respect and self control, entirely feckless. Lindsey Horvath is an example of one who claimed the City has solved the problem, closed her eyes and simply moved on. The disaster has exponentially grown since 2005. Homelessness and its repercussions will affect is all.

CHLOE ROSS
CHLOE ROSS
1 year ago
Reply to  Awareness

Thank you for your reply. I agree with what you say and I wish that the CC was comprised of far more educated and thoughtful members. With a few outstanding exceptions, we are now back to the Little Rascals having a show and even the Little Rascals had producers aware of their audience. Perhaps the Holloway Hotel issue should have been put to a vote by the residents and businesses of the city. The Holloway is not about haters or do-gooders. It is about impact and cold-hard facts and these are matters that the voters in WeHo should have addressed.

Awareness
Awareness
1 year ago
Reply to  CHLOE ROSS

The act of moving folks off the street into respectable housing is not a solution to the problem. These folks require life style changes which have become significantly entrenched. In effect we are simply producing the slums of tomorrow.

John Ryan
John Ryan
1 year ago

I would LOVE to hear the solutions all the haters have. Share your solution to the homeless problem here, PLEASE.

Wacky Weho
Wacky Weho
1 year ago
Reply to  John Ryan

Stop all aid, assistance, etc. Cut it off immediately. Followed up by aggressive and strict anti vagrancy enforcement.

Discourage them from coming to LA, and dissuade those here from staying. Anyone too cute or too crazy to get the message gets jailed.

Problem solved

jacktwist
jacktwist
1 year ago
Reply to  Wacky Weho

ARE YOU AS UGLY AS THESE COMMENTS?

Wacky Weho
Wacky Weho
1 year ago
Reply to  jacktwist

Ugly? Have you seen LA County recently?

As you have your head up your ass, a city covered in human faeces looks like a success story in your eyes

Mick Remington
Mick Remington
1 year ago
Reply to  jacktwist

he’s quite correct. how many homeless live with you?

Mick Remington
Mick Remington
1 year ago
Reply to  John Ryan

work camps

CHLOE ROSS
CHLOE ROSS
1 year ago
Reply to  John Ryan

This is not about hate. It’s about reality, psychology and attainable results. Categorizing anyone who doesn’t think this is a great idea, as a HATER, clouds an issue that needs addressing and curing if possible. falling people haters or by political party name is too easy. And it doesn’t accomplish anything positive. I suspect the name callers do however experience a frisson of schadenfreude when they do it and make their close friends LOL.

TomSmart
TomSmart
1 year ago

Next hair-brained Council idea : turn the PDC into a homeless shelter

CHLOE ROSS
CHLOE ROSS
1 year ago
Reply to  TomSmart

This is not. an idea that should be said out loud…

Jose
Jose
1 year ago

I would advise people within a 3 block radius to SELL NOW! I will dare anyone to walk in that neighborhood afterwards without two Rottweilers, a pistol, a knife a protective vest and a Helmut.

Johnny
Johnny
1 year ago
Reply to  Jose

Agreed. It’s bad enough they take a bath in the fountain and sleep next to CVS or get assaulted as I witnessed last year but now we have these people getting aid that’s expensive and in the middle of a busy part of town. Seriously why not put them up in the garage next to city hall with cots and portable toilets abs showers so city staff can check in on them

Wehoist
Wehoist
1 year ago

Unfortunately, this hotel won’t address the human tragedy we see on the streets of West Hollywood or our little city’s own affordable housing needs. But it will help others, and maybe that’s good enough.

resident
resident
1 year ago

The vagrants that will be cycled into our neighborhood have nothing to do with West Hollywood. They never worked here, never lived here, never paid taxes. Many of them will commit crimes against West Hollywood residents and visitors while they are here.

John Duran was against this project. So sorry he wasn’t elected. Shame on the council members who voted to hurt the community in this way.

TomS
TomS
1 year ago
Reply to  resident

So true It’s all a political smoke screen for next election. Let’s reverse by voting the clown circus out for good Recall Sepi

David
David
1 year ago

You can’t turn most of these lives around in 90 days. This is a very bad that’s not been thought out. Run for your lives.