In an effort to move people living along the Los Angeles River into housing, the city has agreed to rent out the 60-bed Colonial Motel through the next year.
The $1.7 agreement will pay for rooms to house 60 people at a time, as well as use the parking lot. Health officials say 13 people have already moved into the motel as of Wednesday, with another 20 expected to make their stay by the end of the week. They plan to have all rooms filled by the end of the month.
Once housed there, people will be moved into permanent housing on a rolling basis, with the city’s goal being to move at least 80% of them into a home in a year’s time. Those staying there will take part in coordinated drug programs, job training and other services intended to lead to independent living. The approach acknowledges that putting a roof over someone’s head is only the beginning…