Culver City will host a community-wide grand opening celebration on Sept. 29, 2023 for two Project Homekey motel conversions. The two new sites at 3868 and 3900 Sepulveda Boulevard will provide 38 interim housing units for people experiencing homelessness and 35 permanent supportive housing units for people experiencing chronic homelessness.
Project Homekey is a statewide program, administered by the California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD), to rapidly expand housing for people experiencing homelessness or at risk of homelessness through a variety of housing types, including motel repurposing. To date, Project Homekey has funded 94 projects, created 5,911 units, and housed 8,264 individuals around the state, according to the program’s website.
The Project Homekey developments in Culver City repurposed two adjacent motels on Sepulveda Boulevard, Deano’s Motel and the Sunburst Motel, for interim housing and permanent supportive housing. Combined, the projects take an innovative approach to streamlining housing and social services by co-locating both interim housing and longer-term supportive housing next to each other. In addition to meals, linen and laundry services, and security, residents will have access to social services, including an on-site case manager, 24/7 health monitoring, and mental health clinicians.
The interim housing will provide 38 rooms for unhoused households to stay for up to 90 days, with extensions granted based on resident need.
The supportive housing will provide 35 rooms for households experiencing chronic homelessness for a length of time determined by resident need and choice. The goal of permanent supportive housing is to provide a safe and nurturing environment where formerly unhoused individuals can transition into independent community living. In assisting residents in their transition from homelessness to permanent housing, the supportive services provider at the facilities will employ a “whatever it takes” approach, defined as “collaborative, person-centered, trauma-informed, housing first, no-wrong-door, and low barrier.”
Funding for the projects is through California’s Project Homekey, Senator Kamlager, the County of Los Angeles Department of Health Services (DHS) / Intensive Case Management (ICMS), the County of Los Angeles Homeless Initiative of the Chief Executive Officer, the County of Los Angeles Cities and Council of Government Interim Housing Services (CCOGIHS) Grant, the Culver City Low and Moderate Income Housing Asset Fund for capital, and the Culver City General Fund for ongoing services and operations.
Jacob Hay
