The West Hollywood City Council helped celebrate the opening of the Holloway Interim Housing Project on Sept. 30. (photo by Jon Viscott)

West Hollywood celebrated the opening of the Holloway Interim Housing Project on Sept. 30 with a ribbon-cutting ceremony and open house tour of the former Holloway Motel property turned transitional housing complex.

The opening ceremony was attended by the West Hollywood City Council, Assemblyman Rick Chavez Zbur (D-Hollywood), representatives from the office of U.S. Rep. Laura Friedman (D-Glendale), Los Angeles County Supervisor Lindsey Horvath, 3rd District, State Sen. Ben Allen (D-Santa Monica) and community members.

The housing site, located at the former Holloway Motel property at 8464 Holloway Drive, will be managed by Ascencia, a nonprofit homeless services agency. The project will serve 20 individuals in 20 rooms and will prioritize providing temporary housing for people who are chronically homeless – as defined by the Department of Housing and Urban Development, individuals who have a disability or have experienced homelessness on at least four separate occasions in the past three years.

Occupants will be able to stay at the Holloway for up to 90 days and can receive assistance with locating permanent housing and other social services including health care, nutrition, financial planning, community activities and employment readiness from Ascencia staffers, who will provide 24 hour staffing on site.

The project is funded through a combination of approximately $6 million from a California Homekey grant and $7 million from the West Hollywood Affordable Housing Trust Fund. Individuals can enroll in the program by referral only, and Ascencia will refer people who do not qualify for the Holloway Interim Housing Project to other types of interim housing.

“This program is not just short term housing. It’s a stepping stone towards housing health and stability for the long haul,” Mayor Chelsea Byers said. “West Hollywood believes that housing is a human right. The Holloway Interim Housing Program is the embodiment of that belief. This project is what happens when a city puts its values into action. The Holloway is a safe haven and a second chance. It’s a promise kept. Let the Holloway be a model for the entire region. Let it remind us that change begins with care.”

“Who’s old enough to remember the Holloway Motel?” Councilwoman Lauren Meister asked the gathered crowd. “I would say this is an incredible improvement … Ascencia will provide 24/7 staffing and on-site security – creating a safe, stable and supportive environment where residents can heal and plan their next steps. So this is very exciting for all of us.”

“Homelessness is a problem. It’s a problem for those who are experiencing homelessness. It’s a problem for our residents. It’s a problem for the business community, but it is a problem that cannot be solved unless we have facilities like this to help people get on their way and get back into society,” Vice Mayor John Heilman said.

“The combination of state, county and city funds demonstrates how local leadership can successfully leverage outside resources to maximize our impact. The investment that we’ve made shows that we’re not waiting for solutions to come from others. We are using every tool in our toolbox to address homelessness in West Hollywood.”

“Homelessness is a complex issue, and the solution is always local, and the Holloway Interim Project here is a prime example of that,” Councilman Danny Hang said. “We’re choosing to offer diversity, inclusion, thought and care for our entire community.”

“ By opening the Holloway, West Hollywood is demonstrating we are putting our money where our mouths are, and we are working to solve homelessness together and not put another stoppage in the system,” Councilman John Erickson said.

“We have two kinds of communities in the state of California. We have communities that basically respond to the homeless crisis by moving the problem to someplace else, and then we have communities that embrace our homeless communities by actually providing the services that we need,” Zbur said. “When we look at all the things that we have to do in this very complicated dynamic and challenge of dealing with our homeless and our unhoused crisis, one of the key areas where we’ve underinvested is in transitional housing, and so that has been a partnership that I’m very proud that the city of West Hollywood has embraced.”

Horvath was a member of the City Council when the Holloway Interim Housing Project was approved in 2022.

“Hope becomes real in the Holloway Interim Housing Program because it is designed for those in our community who face the greatest barriers and deserve our care and support,” Horvath said in a statement. “By offering not just a safe place to stay but a full network of care, Holloway makes it possible for people to stabilize, heal and take their next step into permanent housing. This is the result of years of planning, community partnership and accountability, and it proves that when we bring every solution to the table, we can deliver change that truly transforms lives.”

After the ribbon cutting ceremony, community members toured bedrooms at the site, which consist of a single twin bed, nightstand, bathroom, essential toiletries and bedding. Residents will begin to move into the Holloway on Oct. 6.

For information on the Holloway Interim Housing Project and to make referrals, contact Ascencia at holloway@ascenciaca.org or (310)424-5979.