Los Angeles City Councilman David Ryu proposed Wednesday that a study be conducted on the feasibility of creating a Bridge Home facility on the border of Los Feliz and Silver Lake that would temporarily shelter families.

The owner of a building at 3061 Riverside Drive that’s being used for office space is interested in leasing it to the city as a temporary shelter, according to Ryu’s office.

“Homelessness is a crisis, and we need every available resource to bring hope and housing to our neighbors suffering on the street,” Ryu said. “After working in this neighborhood and across Council District Four to highlight the urgency of this crisis, I’m encouraged to see property owners stepping up and getting involved.”

The number of people in family living situations who became homeless in the last year increased more than 7% citywide, with about 4,787 adults and 695 people younger than 24 years old in families currently without permanent housing, according to the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority.

In Ryu’s Fourth Council District, homelessness increased the most of any council district since 2018 — by 53% — according to LAHSA.

Ryu’s motion notes that if the shelter is approved, the city will have to find a way to pay for it, which could come from funding from the state and Los Angeles County’s Measure H. It’s unclear how many people could be housed at the Riverside Drive location.

The A Bridge Home program creates temporary housing with mental health and wraparound services for people experiencing homelessness across Los Angeles. It is intended to provide people with references for employment opportunities while they apply for permanent supportive housing or find gainful work opportunities.

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