For years, staff with Housing for Health, a division of the Department of Health Services, have been making the case for walk-in interim housing and a triage facility where outreach workers, emergency responders or police can bring people under the influence as an alternative to jail or hospital stays. This month, both became a reality as Safe Landing opened its doors to the public.

Safe Landing, a 5-building campus built on County-owned property in South Los Angeles, is a first-of-its-kind, walk-in facility that provides individuals with medical and mental health care, a clean and safe sleeping environment, three nutritious meals per day and daily activities. The center also provides help with budgeting, applying for public benefits and securing permanent housing.

“Los Angeles County is leading the way with this Safe Landing site” said Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors Chair, Holly J. Mitchell, “This is how Housing First works, removing the barriers for people to say Yes to housing and providing the support services for them to be well and stay housed.”

Exodus Recovery, which provides mental health and substance use treatment for thousands in LA County, will partner with LA Christian Health Centers to operate the 36-bed triage facility and on-site clinic offering comprehensive health care and mental health services. The site also includes 136 interim housing beds and will accept men, women, couples and their pets. The site was designed by KFA Architecture.

As Libby Boyce, Housing for Health’s deputy director, put it: “When somebody who is unhoused is ready to go inside, they are ready at that moment.” Now, there’s a safe and welcoming facility that’s accessible around the clock.

Congrats to Housing for Health, and its Capital Projects team in particular, for all of their hard work in making Safe Landing a reality — from envisioning a new service model, to overseeing the capital development, and now the operations.

For more information contact: Exodus Recovery (323) 200-2200