Families experiencing homelessness will soon find a safe haven at The Alvarado, Los Angeles County’s latest Homekey property, set to begin accepting residents next month.
Located near MacArthur Park in the Westlake District of Los Angeles, The Alvarado is a three-story, 43-unit, 172-bed interim housing facility that used to be the Lyfe Inn. The County and its nonprofit partner, Hope the Mission, purchased the property, funded in part with a Homekey 2.0 grant from the California Department of Housing and Community Development. Kadre Architects worked on the renovation.
“It is so encouraging that the state is providing cities and local jurisdictions with the funds needed to provide supportive housing for those experiencing homelessness,” County Supervisor Hilda Solis said. “Opening Alvarado Family Shelter is not just about providing a roof over someone’s head. It is about offering hope, dignity, and a chance for these families to rebuild their lives.”
One of the rooms at The Alvarado
“Thanks to everyone who helped transform The Alvarado – a once blighted hotel – into this safe haven for families,” Homeless Initiative Director Cheri Todoroff said. “As many as 43 families, including dozens of children experiencing homelessness, can stay at this newest Homekey site at any given time, getting the help they need to thrive while we work on finding them a permanent place to live.”
When families move into The Alvarado, Hope the Mission — formerly Hope of the Valley Rescue Mission — will provide programs and services, including three hot meals a day, job training and placement, after-school tutoring, life skill classes, and more. Hope the Mission is a 501c3 nonprofit that works to prevent, reduce, and eliminate poverty, hunger, and homelessness by offering immediate assistance and long-term solutions. It operates 17 facilities countywide, including family shelters, emergency shelters, bridge shelters, tiny home villages, and safe parking spots.
“Alvarado Family Shelter will help get families off the streets and on a path of healing,” said Hope the Mission CEO & founder Ken Craft. “It will take a village to solve homelessness in Los Angeles, and partnerships like the one we had with the county and the state to build this shelter, is a fantastic example of what’s possible when we work together.”
Through the Homekey program, the California Housing and Community Development Department (HCD) is funding local jurisdictions to develop a broad range of housing types, including but not limited to hotels, motels, hostels, single-family homes and multifamily apartments, adult residential facilities, and manufactured housing, and to convert commercial properties and other existing buildings to serve people experiencing homelessness.
Los Angeles County has used Homekey grants in combination with other funding to acquire 24 properties, mostly hotels and motels, to convert into interim and permanent housing. To date, the County has acquired 1,567 units, with yet another round of Homekey grants expected to be announced later this year. Aside from The Alvarado, the County is partnering with Hope the Mission to open two other facilities, one in Woodland Hills and another in Lancaster.