The city of West Hollywood has received a state grant that will be used to convert the Holloway Motel into short-term housing for people experiencing homelessness. (photo by Edwin Folven)

The state of California has awarded West Hollywood a conditional $6-million Homekey grant to address the capital and operating expenses for a proposed plan to convert the Holloway Motel site into an interim housing and supportive services facility for people experiencing homelessness.

At its regular meeting on June 6, the West Hollywood City Council unanimously approved a resolution approving the purchase of the Holloway Motel property, located at 8465 Santa Monica Blvd., with $4.2 million (plus closing costs) in unallocated reserves set aside in West Hollywood’s Affordable Housing Trust Fund. The resolution initiates a purchase and escrow process. Closure on the sale is subject to negotiation and preparation of a development agreement with the property owner, which will require Planning Commission review and approval by the City Council at a future public hearing. This follows prior approval, in December 2021, of $2.8 million in unallocated reserves set aside in West Hollywood’s Affordable Housing Trust Fund dedicated as a local match to operating expenses at the proposed interim housing site.

Staff members from the city’s Strategic Initiatives Division will host several meetings about the proposed project. Two upcoming meetings about the Holloway Motel-Homekey Housing Program will take place virtually via Zoom on Wednesday, June 22. One meeting will take place at noon and the other will be held at 7 p.m. Community members are encouraged to attend either session; information presented will be the same content at each meeting. For details about registration, visit  weho.org/calendar.

The work of the Homeless Initiative is guided by the city’s Five-Year Plan to Address Homelessness in Our Community, which was approved by the West Hollywood City Council in 2018. The plan was developed based on extensive engagement with the community and with funding support from LA County Measure H.

At its Dec. 20, 2021, meeting, the West Hollywood City Council authorized city staff to apply for a Project Homekey grant from the  California Department of Housing and Community Development.

The proposed Holloway Motel/Homekey Housing Program envisions the purchase of the Holloway Motel, and for it to be updated, rehabilitated and operated as an interim housing program that will provide comprehensive services for people experiencing homelessness. The goal is to move them off the streets and provide them with case management and supportive services, so they can eventually transition into permanent housing. Residents would typically stay up to 90 days. The project plans call for considerable physical improvements to the site and operations would include appropriate security measures and 24/7 onsite staff.

For information, visit weho.org.