LA County approves $15 million boost for Norwalk mental health housing

NORWALK — Today, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors greenlit a loan increase of up to $15 million to jumpstart the construction of permanent supportive housing on the state's Metropolitan State Hospital campus in Norwalk. The project is part of a larger plan championed by Supervisor Janice Hahn to transform six long-vacant buildings on the campus into a first-of-its-kind mental health treatment and housing village.

"The buildings on this corner of the Metropolitan State Hospital campus have done no one any good sitting vacant for years,” said Supervisor Janice Hahn. “We are transforming them into a mental healthcare village where people can get the help and treatment they need. Converting three of the buildings into permanent supportive housing where people can live long-term is an important part of our plan and this funding keeps us on track.”

The six buildings that will make up the LA County Care Community were built in the 1920s but stopped being used by the State in the early 2000s and have sat vacant ever since. In March of this year, Hahn and state leaders broke ground on the project and construction is currently underway renovating two buildings into 16-bed locked Mental Health Rehabilitation Centers for transitional-aged youth, and another into a 70-bed interim housing facility with wraparound mental health and supportive services.

The financing that the Board approved today addresses the remaining three buildings. Two will be turned into 60 permanent supportive housing studio and one-bedroom apartments for adults who were previously homeless but are ready to live in an apartment setting long-term with ongoing mental health support on-site. The last building will be a communal space for apartment residents, featuring a kitchen, case management offices, wellness and flex spaces, and a computer lounge

Today’s motion approves a loan increase of up to $15 million to PATH Ventures, the nonprofit tasked with the development of the proposed permanent supportive housing facilities. The funds will be drawn from the No Place Like Home program, a state program that has dedicated up to $2 billion in bonds to the development of permanent supportive housing for persons who are in need of mental health services and are experiencing homelessness.

Los Angeles County has already executed an agreement with PATH for the project, and the LACDA board has already approved the use of $20 million dollars in No Place Like Home funds. Today's action adds an additional $15 million in necessary funds for the project.

Remodeling of the interim housing site and the two Mental Health Rehabilitation Centers is set to be completed in December 2027 and January 2028 respectively.  The permanent supportive housing facilities are expected to open in 2029.