[The following final update was written by the organization and then sent to us for further sharing.]

DignityMoves is honored to be one of the awardees of the 10th LA2050 Grants Challenge in the housing and homelessness category, marking a pivotal year in our mission to address Los Angeles (LA) County's urgent housing crisis. The grant was awarded to support the development of a pilot interim housing site in LA County, and our work with the City of Norwalk served as the catalyst for focusing on this region. With support from LA2050 and the Goldhirsh Foundation, we have now launched multiple initiatives since October 2023, including the passage of SB 1395, progress on our ELAC Rooftop Student Housing Project, and a partnership with the City of Norwalk that led to the adoption of a strategic plan to address homelessness. Looking ahead, two major projects on the horizon will deepen our local impact, accelerating our efforts to deliver dignified, scalable housing solutions for those most in need.

One of the most notable achievements in the last year was the passage of SB 1395, also known as the Interim Housing Act, which was signed into legislation by Governor Newsom on August 19, 2024.This bill, supported by San José Mayor Matt Mahan, DignityMoves, the Bay Area Council, and SPUR, aims to address California’s urgent homelessness crisis. With California having the highest rate of unsheltered homelessness in the nation, SB 1395 seeks to streamline the process of developing interim housing across the state. By clarifying zoning laws, empowering local governments like the City of LA and the other 87 cities in LA County, and extending existing streamlining authorities, the bill will expedite housing production, significantly increasing the availability of interim housing and providing a critical step towards permanent housing solutions. This legislation will take effect on January 1, 2025, and its impact is expected to be transformative, offering a new tool for cities to address homelessness more effectively.

Another impactful initiative is the ELAC Rooftop Student Housing Project, which is set to address housing insecurity faced by students within the Los Angeles Community College District, where 55% of students experience housing insecurity and 19% face homelessness. In collaboration with Gensler, Jovenes, and East Los Angeles College (ELAC), including a group of student volunteers, DignityMoves has initiated a pilot project to convert underutilized parking structure rooftops into affordable, interim student housing. This innovative approach will deliver 120-150 housing units at a fraction of the cost and in a shorter timeframe than traditional methods. Thanks to a $250,000 grant from the Wells Fargo Foundation, design and feasibility studies are underway, and we are awaiting approval from the LACCD Board of Trustees to move the project forward. This initiative will be a game-changer for student housing in the region, addressing both affordability and housing insecurity head-on.

In the City of Los Angeles, we have advanced two major projects: one in Council District 4, which will provide a minimum of 20 units for a Perinatal Treatment Center in partnership with Aviva, with funding from the City of LA; and another in Council District 13, which will offer 51 units and serve 100 people annually. These projects, funded through Prop 1 BHCIP, the CA State Tiny Home Grant, and DignityMoves private philanthropy, will collectively serve over 125 people each year and are scheduled to begin construction in 2025. This effort is part of our broader strategy to collaborate with the City of LA to bring more interim housing to the city and address the growing homelessness crisis.

Initially, our focus under the LA2050 Grant was on the City of Norwalk, where we aimed to develop a pilot interim housing site. In doing so, we created a strategic homelessness plan that became a catalyst for broader initiatives. Although Norwalk has not yet moved forward with implementing interim supportive housing, we have since expanded our scope to include other small cities and are now concentrating on county-wide solutions. Despite the pivot in Norwalk, our experience has highlighted the critical importance of political will and coalition building. This strategic shift, however, has paved the way for new partnerships and innovative approaches to interim housing across LA County.

We have met the objectives outlined in the original grant by scaling interim housing solutions, driving policy change through SB 1395, and initiating innovative projects like the ELAC Rooftop Housing Initiative. In doing so, we have strengthened relationships with key stakeholders, including council district offices, the Mayor’s office, Bureau of Engineering, METRO, and other community partners. The work continues, with new partnerships and collaborations emerging as we push forward with these groundbreaking projects.

As we move ahead, we plan to sustain these efforts through continued collaboration, state and federal advocacy, and the completion of our ongoing projects. Our work has been featured in various media outlets, and we will continue to share updates and progress through these channels as we drive towards the completion of our interim housing initiatives.

Media

SF Chronicle - Interim Housing Op-Ed

FOX KTVU - Interim Housing Bill Passed!

AP News - Philanthropy and Tiny Homes

News Channel 3-12 - DignityMoves Plans 4th Community in Santa Barbara