Los Angeles County’s proposal to convert a National Guard armory into a 167-bed homeless shelter has sparked controversy among Westside residents. The $32.7 million project, funded by the American Rescue Plan, aims to provide interim housing and services for unhoused individuals in Service Planning Area 5, which includes West Los Angeles.
Supervisor Lindsey Horvath is expected to address community concerns at a meeting on Wednesday with the West Los Angeles Sawtelle Neighborhood Council. The council’s Planning and Land Use Committee recently voted to recommend scaling back the project, citing concerns about its “low-barrier” entry model, which does not require sobriety or treatment participation. Residents fear this could attract individuals with untreated substance use disorders and pose safety risks, especially in an area with many UCLA students.
The committee also raised issues about traffic, public safety, and potential legal violations related to the site’s historical use. The property, located at 1300 Federal Avenue, is currently a military operations hub. A key legal question is whether the project violates the Bandini-Jones covenant, which restricts the use of adjacent land to benefit military veterans.
County officials defend the proposal as essential to address the needs of medically vulnerable, unhoused residents. The facility would be operated by the Department of Health Services’ Housing for Health program. Despite the backlash, the county argues that SPA 5 has few interim shelter beds due to high land costs and limited space.
Col. Brandon Hill of the California Military Department confirmed that the lease agreement for the site is not finalized and must align with the National Guard’s needs. The meeting, held via Zoom and in person, is expected to draw significant public participation.
The Westside Current reports that Horvath’s office encourages public attendance to learn more about the project.
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