This post is a lightly edited press release provided by EAH Housing.
Last week, EAH Housing cut the ribbon on The Laurel, a supportive housing project in the Pico Neighborhood. Located at 1413 Michigan Avenue, the four-story building will comprise 57 studio apartments, reserved for individuals between 30% and 50% of the area median income (AMI), and a manager’s unit.
The studios are already filled with individuals who were unhoused or at risk of becoming unhoused in Santa Monica, including those who work in the city, have been on the streets for years, or are vulnerable individuals who have frequently relied on first responder resources for care on the street.
Residents include adjunct professors, art educators, filmmakers, and entrepreneurs who were unhoused due to life-changing events like job loss, the pandemic, or a fire. Over half are seniors or have disabilities, with many having been unhoused in Santa Monica for over a decade. Seven residents were referred through the Pathway Home program, a city-county partnership for encampment resolution.
“The individuals living at The Laurel have a new lease on life, now that they are housed with easy access to the services that help them reclaim their lives,” Santa Monica Mayor Phil Brock said. “We must help those who are suffering on our streets get on a pathway out of homelessness while also mitigating the impacts of homelessness on our business community. This new community is a huge step in the right direction.”
A side benefit of the project is that EAH Housing was able to make use of the historic Santa Monica Nikkei Hall, a cultural landmark erected in 1957 that sat vacant for several years. The hall was designated as a landmark in 2018, before it was incorporated into the design of The Laurel.
The new design retains its original windows, entry porch, and woodwork and features a newly restored Japanese garden. The hall will now serve as a gathering space at The Laurel for the community to meet and facilitate resident services. The People Concern, one of Los Angeles County’s largest providers of social services to those unhoused and facing domestic violence, will provide supportive services at the hall for residents.
The Laurel was funded by an $11.7 million Housing Trust Fund loan from Santa Monica, along with ongoing city housing vouchers. The additional apartments bring the city’s total permanent supportive housing units to 181, with 98 more in development. It’s the first such project to open in nearly a decade.
Established in 1968, EAH Housing has a staff of over 750, EAH develops affordable housing, manages over 240 properties in California and Hawai‘i, and plays an advocacy role in local, regional and national housing advocacy efforts.
