It’s no secret that homelessness is a serious and rapidly growing problem throughout Los Angeles. One recent piece of Echo Park news, however, shines some light on a project that could aid those seeking transitional housing.
A Tiny Home Village has recently opened in LA’s Echo Park neighborhood, providing housing to local unhoused individuals in need. The project, set up by the non-profit organization Urban Alchemy, could spell relief for many in the area who are experiencing homelessness.
Tiny Homes Could Solve a Big Problem
Urban Alchemy has constructed 38 tiny homes that can house from one to two people each. Speaking on the village, City Council Member Mitch O’Farrell said, “It gives someone who has suffered the trauma of being homeless an opportunity to have an environment in which they can thrive. And that environment includes supportive services.”
Councilman O’Farrell continued, “This Tiny Home Village, that first entry into stability, is what really gives people a chance to be put on the pathway to permanent housing. Rarely can someone go from a tent to a permanent home?”
Those taking residence in the tiny home village will also be able to receive mental and physical health services, as well as laundry stations and three meals per day. The village also includes a dog park for residents with canine pets.
This is not Urban Alchemy’s first foray into creating transitional housing. The group is also behind the Safe Sleep Village in Rampart Park, which neighboring residents have described as quiet, peaceful, and an all-around success.
A City in Need of Solutions
As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to pose a public health threat, the homelessness epidemic in Los Angeles has become even more visible. With an estimated 64,000 Los Angeles residents currently experiencing homelessness, the city is home to nearly 10 percent of the entire nation’s unhoused population.
In order to combat this crisis, there is a need for alternative thinking and practical solutions. Echo Park’s Tiny Home Village could provide an interesting test case as city officials look for answers to this continued problem.
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