Soft opening for the 100-bed shelter
By Sam Catanzaro
The Brentwood Community Council (BCC) says that a homeless shelter for veterans at the West Los Angeles VA is still set to open amid the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak.
In an email sent Monday morning, the BCC noted that a bridge housing center for homeless veterans at the West Los Angeles VA will open in April. According to the BCC, it will be a soft opening due to City of Los Angeles restrictions prohibiting events and crowds to help prevent the spread of COVID-19.
Once complete, the site will include two 40’ x 120’ tension membrane structures and modular trailers, which will be located within the VA campus near existing buildings and services.
The site will offer roughly 100 beds for currently homeless veterans, as well as storage for residents, personal hygiene and laundry facilities, supportive and community engagement services, and 24-hour security.
This bridge housing facility will be temporary — and not to be visible from the exterior of the campus — as the VA constructs out its Draft Master Plan, which will provide 1200 units of permanent supportive housing on the campus.
The facility was expected to open in early 2019, but crews experienced a delay on the site when they uncovered old pipes that needed special attention as the site was prepared for the temporary structures.
In addition, mud from a rainy winter and asbestos that was discovered hindered the project.
Across the street at the West Los Angeles National Guard Armory, the federal government has approved plans to build a bridge housing center there for non-veteran homeless individuals in the area.
