A new 49-bed mental health facility set to open this month on Ocean Avenue in Santa Monica has sparked controversy among local residents. The facility, which will provide transitional housing for individuals with severe mental illness, is operated by St. Joseph’s Center and funded through a Los Angeles County grant under California’s Proposition 1. It features 24/7 staffing and an open-door policy, allowing residents to come and go freely.
Residents in the exclusive coastal neighborhood claim they were blindsided by the project. Derrick Townsend, a local resident, expressed confusion over the county’s decision to place the facility in the area without prior community input. Cort Wagner, who moved to Santa Monica after the Palisades Fire, shared concerns about safety, citing a violent incident involving a homeless individual near his home.
Santa Monica Mayor Lana Negrete stated that she had no direct role in approving the project due to county and state oversight. “We don’t have local control,” she said, urging residents to address their concerns with the governor and county officials. The mayor learned of the plans only two weeks ago and is not in favor of the facility’s location.
The new facility is part of a broader state initiative to address mental health and homelessness through community-based care. However, similar facilities run by St. Joseph’s Center have drawn complaints from residents, including reports of disturbances and frequent police and ambulance visits.
A town hall meeting is planned in the coming days to discuss the project, but officials indicate that the facility’s opening later this month is likely set.
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