Hundreds of families with children who experienced homelessness in the San Fernando Valley are now living in their own apartments after making the most of their brief stay at The Woodlands, Los Angeles County’s Homekey property in Woodland Hills.
A former motel converted into interim housing, The Woodlands has served 530 families since opening in the spring of 2023. Besides providing a roof over their head, it also offers various services to help families get back on their feet, including job training. So far, 370 families have moved into permanent housing – a 70% success rate – and 50 residents have also secured jobs.
Dinora is among those who recently moved into permanent housing from The Woodlands. She lost her home after a disability left her unable to work. She and her daughter soon found help through Hope the Mission, which operates The Woodlands. Thanks to dedicated caseworker, Dinora not only found an apartment, but also completed her path toward citizenship.
LA County Supervisor Lindsey Horvath, who cut the ceremonial ribbon during the grand opening of The Woodlands, recently paid Dinora and her daughter a visit as they were preparing to transition from The Woodlands into permanent housing. Supervisor Horvath also got the chance to meet other residents during her trip, including Paola, who said she was grateful to have a safe place for her and her daughter, who is excelling at school.
The 100 units at the Woodlands include 400 beds. When families move in, Hope the Mission provides three hot meals per day, job training and placement, after-school tutoring, behavioral health support, case management, and life skill classes, among other programs and services. Hope the Mission is also preparing to open a daycare center next door at a former restaurant – which will further help parents who are working.
Homekey is a program of the California State Housing Community Development Department that aims to bring together state, regional, and local public entities to develop a broad range of housing types for people experiencing homelessness. The LA County Homeless Initiative applied for, and was awarded Homekey funds, which it then matched to turn the The Woodlands into interim housing. Operations are funded through Measure H, a quarter-cent sales tax approved by LA County voters in 2017 to prevent and address homelessness.