Forty-seven formerly unhoused Angelenos moved this week into the West Valley’s first Bridge Housing site, which is meant to provide transitional housing to people experiencing homelessness, it was announced Friday.
The Willows, located at 7621 Canoga Ave. in Canoga Park, opened on Monday and will provide residents with resources including case management, space for animals and larger quarters for couples, according to Councilman Bob Blumenfield’s office.
While it currently has 47 residents, it will expand to house 80 people after COVID-19 capacity limitations are lifted, Blumenfield’s office said.
Blumenfield and Los Angeles County Supervisor Sheila Kuehl worked together to create a plan for the county to purchase the site with help from a conditional grant from the city. The project was funded through $1.3 million from the Mayor’s Bridge Housing program and $3 million from the state’s Homeless Emergency Aid Program. Following renovations from the county, the site is expected to provide at least 15 years of homeless services.
“This would have not been possible without Supervisor Sheila Kuehl and her team, who worked hand-in-glove with us,” Blumenfield said. “Just a few years ago, we had no permanent services in the West Valley helping our community’s unhoused residents. With incredible partnerships with L.A. Family Housing and other local nonprofit service providers, we are growing and strengthening, a network that is starting to make a real tangible difference in people’s lives.”
Blumenfield joined the site’s service provider, L.A. Family Housing, to welcome the new residents and hand out kits filled with hygiene products, clothing and other personal items. The kits were created with donations from West Valley business owners, including Tim Gaspar of Gaspar Insurance Services, Brad Rosenheim and Chris Murray of Rosenheim & Associates, Inc., and Rickey Gelb of Gelb Group.
While residents have already moved in to The Willows, the official grand opening for the facility will be held Feb. 12 at 9 a.m. People and RSVP and watch at bit.ly/39S9iZY.