LOS ANGELES (CNS) - The City Council unanimously voted today to purchase eight motels to help homeless people in Los Angeles move rapidly off the streets.
Funding for the purchases comes from the state's Project Homekey. The eight motels, which are located throughout the city, will provide Los Angeles with a total of 701 units for homeless people.
“Project Homekey is one of the smart, quick and nimble responses to homelessness that I have been advocating for,'' Councilman Mike Bonin said. “We can't wait years for the construction of new units. We need to get people off the streets immediately, and purchasing motels and hotels is one of the fastest and most efficient ways we can do that.''
The units will provide interim housing, laundry services, storage, food services and case management services to individuals experiencing homelessness, with priority going to the local homeless community within the vicinity of each of the motels.
“Each of these beds represents hope for an individual who is living in an encampment and sleeping on the street,'' Bonin said. “But this is just a drop in the bucket of what we need if we are going to actually address the magnitude of the crisis on our streets. I am eager to work with any hotel or motel owner in any and every neighborhood in my district to rapidly expand this program.''
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