By Sam Catanzaro
A homeless shelter for homeless veterans on the West Los Angeles VA is nearly complete, Councilmember Mike Bonin has announced.
In Bonin’s January newsletter, it was announced that work is nearly complete on a bridge housing shelter for homeless veterans on the West Los Angeles VA campus.
“The sprung structure tent has been erected on the site and construction crews anticipate work will be done within weeks, allowing the facility to open in early March,” reads the newsletter.
Once complete, the site will include two 40’ x 120’ tension membrane structures and modular trailers, which will be located within the VA campus near existing buildings and services.
The site will offer roughly 100 beds for currently homeless veterans, as well as storage for residents, personal hygiene and laundry facilities, supportive and community engagement services, and 24-hour security.
This bridge housing facility will be temporary — and not to be visible from the exterior of the campus — as the VA constructs out its Draft Master Plan, which will provide 1200 units of permanent supportive housing on the campus.
The facility was expected to open in early 2019, but crews experienced a delay on the site when they uncovered old pipes that needed special attention as the site was prepared for the temporary structures.
In addition, mud from a rainy winter and asbestos that was discovered hindered the project.
Across the street at the West Los Angeles National Guard Armory, the federal government has approved plans to build a bridge housing center there for non-veteran homeless individuals in the area.
