Housing for Health and Exodus Recovery announced the opening of an interim housing site with triage beds and 24/7 clinical care to meet the immediate health care and housing needs among people experiencing homelessness in South Los Angeles.
Safe Landing is a five-building campus built on County-owned property near the corner of Normandie Avenue and Imperial Highway in the West Athens neighborhood. It is a first-of-its-kind, walk-in facility that provides individuals with medical and mental health care, a clean and safe sleeping environment, three nutritious meals per day and daily activities. The center also provides help with budgeting, applying for public benefits and securing permanent housing.
Supervisor Holly Mitchell said, “I was proud to help kick off the opening of Safe Landing, a first-of-its-kind interim housing site that will be open 24/7 to provide a welcoming and inclusive space for unhoused residents to get immediate access to critical health services and housing options that meet their specific needs. This is Housing First in action.”
Outreach teams, emergency responders and law enforcement officers also will bring people to the center as an alternative to jail. Safe Landing is scheduled to begin accepting people, including those under the influence, this month.
Exodus Recovery, which provides mental health and substance use treatment for thousands in LA County, will partner with LA Christian Health Centers to operate the 36-bed triage facility and on-site clinic offering comprehensive health care and mental health services. The site also includes 136 interim housing beds and will accept men, women, couples and their pets. The site was designed by KFA Architecture.
These services are made possible through funding from the federal American Rescue Plan, the Department of Mental Health and Measure H, LA County’s tax-based program to generate funds to support homeless services and short-term housing.