Work resumes on site after delays.
By Sam Catanzaro
At the city, county and federal level, progress is underway in creating housing for veterans in need.
Over the summer, work has continued in West Los Angeles, where the City of Los Angeles, LA County, and U.S Department of Veteran Affairs (VA) are partnering to build temporary bridge housing for 100 veterans on the interior of the West Los Angeles VA Campus. According to Councilmember Mike Bonin, contractors recently completed removing a subterranean pipe uncovered at the site being leveled that was believed to contain asbestos.
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.
“As the sites prepare to open, outreach workers will begin building trust with people experiencing homelessness, so people currently living in encampments in Venice, as well as veterans experiencing homelessness on the Westside, will be ready to move in when the facilities both open later this year,” said Councilmember Mike Bonin.
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 the rainy winter and asbestos that was discovered hindered the project.
Across the street at the West Los Angeles National Guard Armory, plans have been submitted to the federal government to build a bridge housing center there for non-veteran homeless individuals in the area.
