HomeMy WebLinkAbout2023-016 2022 Tiny Home Villages VisitFebruary 17, 2023 Report No. 2023-016
INFORMAL STAFF REPORT
TO MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL
SUBJECT:
Tiny Home Villages Visit with San Gabriel Valley Regional Housing Trust and San Gabriel Valley
Council of Governments.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY:
As the City continues to explore solutions that strengthen our Housing Crisis Response System, it
is helpful to see different types of projects in operation. On December 1, 2022, a group from the
City of Denton visited three Tiny Home Villages located in the City of Baldwin Park, CA, and the
City of Montebello, CA. The San Gabriel Valley Regional Housing Trust (SGVRHT) hosted the
tours. The SGVRHT and San Gabriel Valley Council of Governments (SGVCOG) have developed
a tiny home pilot program to help cities meet the immediate needs of individuals experiencing
homelessness (Exhibit 1).
DISCUSSION:
During the visit, SGVRHT provided a presentation that detailed the partnership with the
SGVCOG, the process of developing the facilities, and the daily operations for each project. The
Tiny Home Villages included Operation Stay Safe with the City of Montebello and Serenity Homes
and Esperanza Villa with the City of Baldwin Park. Highlights of each village are provided below.
Operation Stay Safe Overview
• Purpose: Operation Stay Safe is a 30-
unit tiny home village in the City of
Montebello, CA that provides individual
adults experiencing unsheltered
homeless temporary housing while
bridging to permanent housing. The
target length of stay is 90 days.
• Nonprofit Organization: Onsite
supportive services are provided by
Volunteers of America Los Angeles and
a specialized unit from the City of
Montebello Fire Department.
• Open: May 18, 2022
• Project Schedule:
August/September October/November December-May
In August, city staff,
SGVRHT, and service
providers conducted
community outreach.
City Council approved the
project on 10/27. SGVRHT
purchased the shelters,
restrooms, and other site
structures.
Site preparation is taking
place. Structures are being
installed at the site.
Referrals will start being
accepted to prepare for site
opening.
February 17, 2023 Report No. 2023-016
Units: 30
• Product: Pallet Shelter
o 64 Sq. ft Sleeping Shelters,
o Bathroom/Shower building(s),
and
o 400 Sq. ft Community Room
building.
• Site: Existing Parking lot
• Site Amenities:
o Each unit provides a bed,
shelves, overhead light,
AC/heat, an outlet, and a door
that locks.
o Laundry, restroom, and shower
facilities
• Supportive Services:
o Onsite supportive services provided by Volunteers of America Los Angeles
o Three daily meals for residents
o Case management to connect residents to additional services and permanent
housing
o Laundry, restroom, and shower facilities
o 24/7 security, privacy fencing, and secured entry
• Eligibility Requirements: Individuals experiencing homelessness in Montebello.
Participants are referred through local street outreach
• Partnerships: SGVRHT, SGVCOG, City of Montebello, City of Montebello Fire
Department
Esperanza Villa Overview
• Purpose: Esperanza Villa is a 25-unit tiny home village in the City of Baldwin Park, CA
that provides individual adults experiencing unsheltered homeless temporary housing
while bridging to permanent housing. The target length of stay is 90 days.
• Nonprofit Organization: Onsite supportive services are provided by Volunteers of
America Los Angeles
• Open: November 22, 2021
February 17, 2023 Report No. 2023-016
• Project Schedule:
June/July August/September October/November
In June, city staff,
SGVRHT, and service
providers conducted
community outreach
including two virtual
information sessions and
two in-person site tours.
City Council approved the
project on July 7th
SGVRHT purchased the
shelters, restrooms, and
other site structures. Public
Works began to prepare the
site. Volunteers assembled
hygiene and welcome kits
for future residents
Tiny homes and restrooms
arrived and were connected
to utilities. Volunteers
helped make beds in each
of the units and assembled
site furniture. The site
opened on 11/22/21 just in
time for Thanksgiving
• Units: 25
• Product: Pallet Shelter
o 64 Sq. ft Sleeping Shelters,
o Portable
Bathroom/Shower
building(s), and
o 128 Sq. ft Community
Room building.
• Site: Existing lot
• Site Amenities:
o Each unit provides a bed,
shelves, overhead light,
AC/heat, an outlet, and a
door that locks.
o Laundry, restroom, and shower trailers
o Dog run for participants with pets
• Supportive Services:
o On-site supportive services provided by Volunteers of America Los Angeles
(VOALA)
o Three daily meals for residents, prepared offsite and delivered daily by VOALA
o Case management to connect residents to additional services and permanent
housing
o 24/7 security, privacy fencing, and secured entry
• Eligibility Requirements: Individuals experiencing homelessness in Montebello.
Participants are referred through local street outreach
• Partnerships: SGVRHT, SGVCOG, City of Baldwin Park
Serenity Homes Overview
• Purpose: Serenity Homes is a 16-modular unit tiny home village in the City of Baldwin
Park, CA that provides bridge housing site for families experiencing homelessness in
Baldwin Park. The target length of stay is 6 months.
• Nonprofit Organization: On-site supportive services are provided by City Net
February 17, 2023 Report No. 2023-016
• Open: September 24, 2022
• Project Schedule:
June July/August August/September
Project approved by City
Council
Community Engagement
sessions and site tours
Site preparation was
performed by Baldwin Park
Public Works.
Site Grand Opening
• Units: 16 Modular Units
• Product: Boss Cubez
o 144 Sq. ft Sleeping
Shelters,
o Portable Bathroom/Shower
building(s), and
o Community Room
building.
• Site: Existing parking lot on a
previous Auto Repair Business
• Site Amenities:
o Each unit provides AC/
heat, lighting, electrical
outlets, twin bunk beds and a full-size bed. Two units can be connected to
accommodate larger families.
o Laundry, restroom, and shower trailers
o An onsite computer room will facilitate homework and job training.
• Supportive Services:
o On-site supportive services provided by City Net
o Three daily meals for residents
o Case management to connect residents to additional services and permanent
housing
o 24/7 security, privacy fencing, and secured entry
• Eligibility Requirements: Families experiencing homelessness in Baldwin Park.
• Partnerships: SGVRHT, SGVCOG, City of Baldwin Park, Public Works and PARD
(Project Construction), Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority
After the visit, staff received a presentation from Pallet shelters. The Pallet representative shared
information on shelter village layouts that encompasses private sleeping shelters, paired with
onsite amenities. Its delivery format is a planned community that meets residents’ basic needs:
private sleeping shelters, meals, bathrooms, and laundry paired with an on-site case management
team to provide services to help people transition to permanent housing.
February 17, 2023 Report No. 2023-016
CONCLUSION:
At this time, staff does not recommend action on any of the existing options. Staff will continue to
research housing solutions that strengthen our Housing Crisis Response System and meet the needs
of the community.
ATTACHMENTS:
• Exhibit 1: Presentation - Tiny Homes: bridging the gap from shelter to permanent housing
STAFF CONTACT:
Dani Shaw, Community Services
REQUESTOR:
Staff initiated
PARTICIPATING DEPARTMENTS:
CMO, Community Services
STAFF TIME TO COMPLETE REPORT:
1.5 hours
Tiny Homes:
bridging the gap
from shelter to
permanent housing
Marisa Creter, Executive Director
Yuriko Ruizesparza, Program
Supervisor
Brielle Acevedo, Housing Trust Manager
Regional
Partnerships &
Collaboration
City and COG programs
Workforce
Development
Food
Recovery
Landlord
outreach and
incentives
Recreation
Programming
Crisis
Intervention
Prevention
and
Diversion
Bridge Housing
Overview
Funding
Development and Operational Costs
Capital funding
Funding sources included State Budget Earmark funding allocated to the SGVRHT and
SGVCOG and local funding, Measure H, allocated to the SGVCOG and City of Baldwin
Park.
Development cost is $25,000 per unit including site development.
§Restroom trailers
§Case management office
§Connection to utilities
§Asphalt paint
Operational funding
The SGVRHT funded the first year of operations. The County of Los Angeles has
awarded a funding grant for year 2, extending the program through November 2023.
24/7 staffing
and services
Meals and
direct client
assistance
$87/bed/night
Bed rate
Design and Building
Site elements, building codes, and utility
connections
Tiny home
details
•64 square feet
•Insulated + AC/heat
•Locking door
•Overhead light
•Fold down bed and
desk
•ADA complaint
•Mold/mildew resistant
Emergency
Shelter
Resolution
Provides the ability to
deploy sites quickly
Staffing & Operations
Services provided onsite
24/7 staffing and supportive services
Resident aides and safety monitors
Case managers
Housing navigators
Volunteers
Success Stories
Connections to permanent housing and
tiny homes from the client perspective
Transitions to permanent housing
The first Esperanza Villa resident placed in permanent housing was a 76-year-old
woman who had been homeless on and off since 2014. After staying at the tiny homes
site for about 3 months, she is no longer homeless.
The second client connected to permanent housing was also a senior woman. She spent
4 months at Esperanza Villa before receiving a County Housing Choice Voucher.
4 additional clients have transitioned to permanent housing and all residents are working
toward their housing plan
Community
Engagement
Before and after site opening
Community site tours and FAQs
Volunteer Opportunities
Scalability
Technical assistance, knowledge
sharing, and upcoming projects
Site plan development
Site tours for cities and providers
Burbank Malibu Torrance Hawthorne
Fontana Paramount LAHSA Montebello
Operation Stay
Safe
30 units of tiny home
bridge housing in the
City of Montebello
Coming soon!
Baldwin Park Family
tiny home site opens
September 24 th!
Contact us
mcreter@sgvcog.org
bacevedo@sgvrht.org
YRuizesparza@baldwinpark.com
sgvrht.org/tinyhomes