Harris-Dawson aims to provide resources to help individuals find employment and housing while providing a safe place for people to store their belongings and access hygiene services.
Today, Los Angeles City Councilmember Marqueece Harris-Dawson announced the opening of the Navigation Center at 729 W. Manchester Avenue. This one-stop-shop will provide critical services to people experiencing homelessness and connect them to resources, such as employment opportunities and supportive housing. This project is funded at nearly $9
million thanks to HHH, a $1.2 billion bond issued by Councilmember Harris-Dawson and supported by millions of voters to create housing and provide services for individuals and families that are experiencing homelessness.
“Homelessness remains the most pressing issue in our City and we must continue to invest in solutions to this crisis,” said Councilmember Harris-Dawson. “This pandemic has underscored the role that race plays in socioeconomic and health outcomes. We need to ensure our solutions to the homelessness crisis have equity at the forefront and create pathways to housing.”
The Navigation Center will offer a wide range of services to help people that are experiencing homelessness access the resources they need, as well as hygiene services to thwart the spread of COVID-19. In an effort to comply with COVID-19 safety measures, a reduced number of participants will be allowed into the center after outreach and intake. Individuals will be able to shower, store and wash their belongings and receive individualized services based on their needs and acuity level. Homeless Outreach Program Integrated Care System (HOPICS) will be the onsite service provider and manage the day to day operation of the Navigation Center.
“This navigation center represents a significant investment in addressing the homelessness crisis and complements our ongoing efforts to serve South LA residents experiencing homelessness,” said Veronica Lewis, Director of HOPICS. “My team and I are proud to operate a Center that is designed to help restore human dignity to people who are unhoused in South LA by simply providing access to things most of us take for granted: restrooms, hot showers, clean clothes and a safe, dry place to keep our possessions.”
The Navigation Center utilizes a non-enforcement approach to provide support and address the health concerns around access to hygiene services. The COVID-19 pandemic continues to spread and threaten the health, safety, and livelihood of residents. The center will provide a clean, safe, calm, and flexible environment that enables homeless individuals to focus on finding stable, permanent housing.
This Navigation Center is one of dozens of new HHH funded projects scheduled to either open or break ground in 2021, and is the first of its kind in South LA. Councilmember Harris-Dawson has approved over 600 units of permanent supportive housing in Council District 8, which includes parts of South Los Angeles and spawns from Baldwin Hills to the border of Watts. Neighborhoods include Vermont Knolls, King Estates, Canterbury Knolls, Park Mesa Heights, Baldwin Hills, Hyde Park, Chesterfield Square, Vermont Vista, Green Meadows, View Heights and West Park Terrace.
