Los Angeles County is partnering with Treehouse Impact Group to acquire a 29-unit property to provide interim housing for youth and young adults, including those who have been in the foster care system, by tapping new Homekey 3.0 grants announced by the State of California.
The latest project, called Butterfly’s Haven – Woodlawn, brings the County’s total number of Homekey properties to 32, with a combined total of 2,157 units.
“This newest Homekey project increases opportunities for our young people to have community, a sense of safety and stability. Having a warm homecoming at Butterfly Haven gives young people a place to live and thrive,” said Supervisor Holly J. Mitchell.
“This site will serve youth who need as much support as possible,” LA County Homeless Initiative Executive Director Cheri Todoroff added. “By giving them a nurturing environment, we can help youth take their first steps toward a brighter future.”
The State awarded $11.3 million in Homekey 3.0 funds to the project, and the LA County Board of Supervisors committed $3.45 million from LA County’s American Rescue Plan Act funding allocation to meet the “local match” requirement.
Located near Exposition Park in downtown Los Angeles, the newly constructed property has micro-studio units designed to provide housing and support for former foster youth enrolled in Transitional Housing Program Plus (THP+), as well as transition age youth (TAY) and housing insecure youth enrolled in other programs. They will receive essential services, such as the opportunity to learn skills to promote self-sufficiency, assistance with educational goals, obtaining employment, financial management, relationship mentoring, and daily living skills.
In the past, agencies serving THP+ participants often struggled to find landlords willing to provide suitable units. With this project, LA County innovatively combined two state funding sources – THP+ and Homekey 3.0 – to develop housing dedicated to this particularly vulnerable population.
