A motel in West Hollywood has been repurposed to serve as a housing complex for unsheltered individuals.
The Holloway Motel on Santa Monica Boulevard will serve as a bridge to permanent housing for those who are experiencing homelessness. Its ribbon-cutting celebration was held Tuesday by the city and Ascencia, a nonprofit organization that provides housing resources.
Among the speakers who were present at the ribbon-cutting was Kylee Lolla, who experienced the struggles of housing instability firsthand.
“You cannot have a peace of mind without a place to rest your head, bottom line,” she said.
The new Holloway Interim Housing Program comes as a partnership between the city and Ascenia. West Hollywood received a grant to purchase the motel in 2022 to convert it into temporary housing. With the renovations complete, the building can house 20 people in need.
In addition to providing shelter, the housing program will offer participants mental health care, financial literacy education and employment support. Long-term housing support will also be offered.
“Just stabilizing people, helping rebuild that trust, that’s so essential to taking more services and support,” said West Hollywood Mayor Chelsea Byers. “That’s what is key to happening here.”
“We know we’re going to help a lot of people and save a lot of lives,” said Laura Dunan, Ascencia’s Executive Director.
Staff will be available on-site around the clock and they’re already looking to identify people who could potentially stay at the revamped shelter. People could be moving in as early as this week.