Biggest permanent supportive housing facility in Los Angeles opens

Local leaders celebrated the opening of Los Angeles' largest permanent supportive housing development on Thursday.

The project, named 600 San Pedro after its address, is a 17-story mixed-use building with 302 units, all of which are "permanent supportive housing specifically designed for people in interim housing transitioning to permanent housing with services, ultimately addressing homelessness," homeless services provider Weingart Center Association and developer Related California said in a news release.

The housing is built on a 1.12-acre lot in downtown Los Angeles, replacing a parking lot, and it marks the largest 100% permanent supportive housing development in L.A.

L.A. Mayor Karen Bass and County Supervisor Hilda Solis were on hand to celebrate the opening.

"Los Angeles needs all of us, from government to nonprofit and the private sectors, working together to urgently confront our homelessness crisis by building more housing and providing lifesaving services,” said Bass. “I want to thank Related and Weingart for their ongoing commitment to building more permanent supportive housing so that people who come inside from tents and encampments can move into homes and communities where they can live healthy, full lives.”

Solis said "safe and dignified supportive housing is the key to ending homelessness," and she plans to continue pushing for similar projects.

"I will continue working with partners like Weingart Center to bring more resources to the Skid Row community and ensure that everyone has the opportunity to come indoors and thrive," she said.

As part of that effort to help people thrive, amenities at the building "promote safety, well-being and healing," developers said, listing "a pet relief area, community garden, career center, library, fitness area, and onsite laundry facilities."

In addition, each apartment comes furnished and includes appliances and air conditioning, and Weingart Center offers services that include "individualized on-site case management, mental and physical health care, substance use services, employment and job training assistance, educational support, and more."