Supportive Housing Projects Planned For Santa Monica Canceled Following Controversy

SANTA MONICA, CA — Plans for two controversial interim supportive housing projects planned for Santa Monica have been called off, the city's county supervisor announced on Monday.

The proposal was for facilities on the 400 and 800 blocks of Ocean Avenue, where a total of 49 beds would have been built for people with mental health issues and co-occuring substance use disorders.

Some residents pushed back on the plan. Mayor Lana Negrete blasted the proposals, writing on social media that the city "never got a heads up" about the project and saying no community meetings were ever held about the proposal.

Los Angeles County Supervisor Lindsey Horvath on Monday said the projects have been halted.

"When a project moves forward without community awareness, it erodes trust," Horvath said in a statement. "In this case, that trust has been broken, and the community is right to be frustrated. That's why I have directed the termination of the Ocean Avenue projects and directed (the Department of Mental Health) to work with St. Joseph Center and the city of Santa Monica to identify alternative sites that meet community needs."

The facilities were set to be operated by St. Joseph Center with county funding through the state's Behavioral Health Bridge Housing Program, the Santa Monica Daily Press reported.

The uproar previously prompted Horvath to initially put the projects on hold, calling for more public outreach.

"The lack of transparency and coordination in this process is unacceptable," she said. "It's exactly why I directed the County to unify all homelessness and behavioral health housing programs under one coordinated department — to ensure clear leadership, consistent communication, and accountability as we address our homelessness crisis.

"The need for mental health and housing resources remains urgent. We must all work together to deliver the solutions we need."

Negrete had previously placed an item on the agenda of Tuesday's City Council meeting, which seeks clarity on how the county-funded facilities were approved and how officials communicated about them with the public, the Daily Press reported.

City News Service contributed to this report.