EAH Housing, one of the largest and most respected nonprofit housing development and management organizations in the Western United States, announced the completion and grand opening of The Laurel, a 58-unit permanent support housing development in Santa Monica, California.
“Providing quality, affordable housing for the nation’s most vulnerable residents is a core function of EAH Housing’s mission,” said Laura Hall, President and CEO of EAH Housing. “The Laurel is a testament to this commitment. We are honored to have worked alongside the City of Santa Monica these past four years to bring our collective vision to fruition. We look forward to creating more thoughtful solutions to address Santa Monica’s housing crisis, and improve residents’ quality of life.”
“The individuals living at The Laurel have a new lease on life, now that they are housed with easy access to the services that help them reclaim their lives,” Santa Monica Mayor Phil Brock said. “We must help those who are suffering on our streets get on a pathway out of homelessness while also mitigating the impacts of homelessness on our business community. This new community is a huge step in the right direction.”
A unique facet of this project is the historic Santa Monica Nikkei Hall, a cultural landmark erected in 1957 that sat vacant for several years before being restored and incorporated into The Laurel. Designated as a landmark in 2018, The Laurel retains its original windows, entry porch, and woodwork and features a newly restored Japanese garden. The hall will now serve as a gathering space at The Laurel for the community to meet and facilitate resident services. The People Concern, one of Los Angeles County’s largest providers of social services to those unhoused and facing domestic violence, will provide supportive services.
Los Angeles-based architecture firm KFA designed The Laurel focusing on urban revitalization and sustainability. The C-shaped building surrounds a landscaped courtyard with seating. An elevated patio on the second floor and a third-floor community deck will face inward to the central courtyard to promote community interaction.
The Laurel now provides housing for 57 individuals who were unhoused or at risk of becoming unhoused in Santa Monica, including those who work in the city, have been on the streets for years, or are vulnerable individuals who have frequently relied on first responder resources for care on the street.
The Laurel was funded by an $11.7 million Housing Trust Fund loan from Santa Monica, along with ongoing city housing vouchers. The additional apartments bring the city’s total permanent supportive housing units to 181, with 98 more in development. It’s the first such project to open in nearly a decade.
Residents include adjunct professors, art educators, filmmakers, and entrepreneurs who were unhoused due to life-changing events like job loss, the pandemic, or a fire. Over half are seniors or have disabilities, with many having been unhoused in Santa Monica for over a decade. Seven residents were referred through the Pathway Home program, a city-county partnership for encampment resolution.
“With the opening of The Laurel, 57 vulnerable Santa Monicans now have a safe, stable place to call home,” Housing and Human Services Director Heather Averick said. “Permanent Supportive Housing is a vital and necessary tool in our work to address the housing and homelessness crisis in our city. The Laurel is a beautiful example of the city’s dedication to creating and sustaining permanent solutions to better improve the quality of life for all Santa Monicans.”
