Los Angeles County opens its first tiny home village to fight homelessness

Contributors: Jonathan Giovanazzi, Dylan Sherry, Tracy Mejia, Debbie Martinez, and Brandon Zamora.

NORTH HOLLYWOOD, LOS ANGELES -- A new solution to shelter homeless Angelenos has been constructed in North Hollywood.

Living in L.A.’s newest tiny home community; featuring Amy Skinner and Christopher Hernandez. (Video by Debbie Martinez)

The Chandler Boulevard Bridge Home Village, initiated on February 2nd, has been at full capacity since its opening. The project was developed through the Hope of the Valley Rescue Mission in conjunction with the L.A. Conservation Corps and Seattle-based company Pallet Shelters.

Left: The common area and courtyard provided for residents surrounded by the colorful tiny home developments. Right: A line of tiny home units developed for two residents each. (Photos by Tracy Mejia)

Hope of the Valley Rescue Mission CEO Ken Craft created the idea of the North Hollywood community. He and his team led an accelerated construction process for the site, and are also responsible for the creation of over 15 other shelters, and office sites to help L.A.’s impoverished community.

Hope of the Valley annual contributions to L.A. County homeless residents. (Graphic by Brandon Zamora)

The interactive map below provides locations and descriptions of most of the non-profit’s shelters and locations.

Interactive map featuring each Hope of the Valley shelter and office in the L.A. area. (Courtesy of Brandon Zamora)

Currently, the North Hollywood tiny homes make up the largest newly housed homeless community in L.A. County; 103 tiny home units are on the property. Each 64-square foot home at the site is equipped with beds, electrical outlets, heat, and air conditioning. Showers, meals, laundry services, and access to mental health and job programs are also available to the shelters’ occupants.

On-site washers and dryers are a part of the “hygiene trailers” in the community. The North Hollywood community provides 5 washers and dryers, and six full-sized restrooms for its residents. (Photo by Tracy Mejia)

“It’s got the service,” said Amy Skinner. Skinner was one of the first residents at the community. She had previously been homeless for three years. “Three meals a day, there’s a shower, there’s laundry, there’s a warm bed every single night, consistency, same faces all the time, which is welcoming to me. It’s just like… a big house.”

A portrait of Amy Skinner and her dog “Smalls”. Skinner shares a unit at the tiny home community with another resident. She lives with only three bags of belongings at the site, but plans to work towards finding a permanent home. (Photo by Tracy Mejia)

Skinner is not the only person in Los Angeles facing homelessness and looking for a roof to sleep under. Los Angeles County actually presents residents with one of the highest average rent costs in the nation. Over 87% of apartment renters in the county this year face a monthly rent cost of $1,500 or more.

L.A. County monthly rent costs. (Chart by Brandon Zamora)

At the tiny homes, there is no rent cost, and residents are provided with a new sense of privacy. Locked doors and private bathrooms are two amenities many take for granted, but most new community members are quite grateful.

“Shelters don't have privacy like they do here, they have security, you know, 24 hours a day,” site manager Christopher Hernandez said. “We have on-site staff, we have cameras, we have lights. At the end of the day, they have their own privacy and other shelters, they don't provide that.”

The ease of mind that privacy provides makes a huge difference for tiny home occupants. Instead of fearing the loss of their belongings or being injured, they can focus finding careers and bettering their physical and mental health.

Before entering and leaving the tiny homes, all guests and residents are checked by security. This is done to ensure belongings are kept in place and to promote community safety. Lockers are also available to all residents and guests for safety and security. (Photo by Tracy Mejia)

Governor Gavin Newsom said in a recent statement that $2 billion will be allotted this year to create more housing for homeless Californians across the state. This comes after concerns surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic forced shelters to reduce their capacities to maintain physical distancing and account for other safety standards.

At the North Hollywood site, each finished tiny home costs about $7,500 each. Officials see this as a very cost-effective and creative solution for the state moving forward.

A fully-equipped tiny home for a disabled resident. This entire unit costs just under $7,500 to create. (Photo by Tracy Mejia)

A 2020 report by the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority found that 66,436 people in the County are experiencing homelessness, a 12.7% rise from their 2019 count. Tens of thousands still search for shelter despite the tiny home developments, providing a transitory break from the brutal cycle.

The goal for Chandler Street residents is to stay a few months and then transition to more permanent housing. City officials and organizations like Hope of the Valley now look to see if the tiny homes can provide the tiny boost some may need as they attempt to escape homelessness.