Los Angeles County Supervisor Lindsey Horvath Monday terminated plans for proposed interim housing projects on Ocean Avenue in Santa Monica that were previously put on hold due to concerns about a lack of community input or notification.
“When a project moves forward without community awareness, it erodes trust,” Horvath said in a statement. “In this case, that trust has been broken, and the community is right to be frustrated. That’s why I have directed the termination of the Ocean Avenue projects and directed (the Department of Mental Health) to work with St. Joseph Center and the city of Santa Monica to identify alternative sites that meet community needs.”
The proposed interim housing facilities in the 400 and 800 blocks of Ocean Avenue were expected to include a total of 49 beds for people with behavioral health issues. But when nearby residents learned about the projects, an uproar ensued. Santa Monica Mayor Lana Negrete blasted the proposals, writing on social media that the city “never got a heads up” about the project and saying no community meetings were ever held about the proposal.
The uproar prompted Horvath to initially put the projects on hold, calling for more public outreach before the effort moves forward.
But on Monday, Horvath pulled the plug on the projects altogether.
“The lack of transparency and coordination in this process is unacceptable,” she said. “It’s exactly why I directed the County to unify all homelessness and behavioral health housing programs under one coordinated department — to ensure clear leadership, consistent communication, and accountability as we address our homelessness crisis.
“The need for mental health and housing resources remains urgent. We must all work together to deliver the solutions we need.”