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Housing complex with units for homeless veterans opens in Norwalk
LA County Nov 16, 2024
State Sen. Bob Archuleta, Assemblywoman Blanca Pacheco Norwalk City Council members and other attendees officially open Norwalk Veterans Villas at San Antonio Drive. | Photo courtesy of the city of Norwalk
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A 60-unit affordable housing complex, about a third of which are for homeless veterans, opened Friday in Norwalk, city officials announced.
A ribbon-cutting ceremony featuring state and local officials officially opened Veterans Villas at San Antonio Drive.
The housing complex, located at San Antonio Drive and Foster Road, will be managed by Mercy Housing Management Group, which will provide long-term supportive services to all residents, according to the nonprofit affordable housing developer. The VA will provide case management residents living in the 18 Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing units at the property.
Speakers at the ribbon-cutting event included state Sen. Bob Archuleta, D-Norwalk, who chairs the Senate Committee on Military and Veterans Affairs, Assemblywoman Blanca Pacheco, D-Downey, and representatives from the U.S. military, Mercy Housing California, Norwalk Vice Mayor Tony Ayala and veterans organizations.
This year Norwalk rankled Gov. Gavin Newsom and state housing officials after the City Council passed a ban on homeless shelters and housing. State officials said that was in violation of affordable housing laws and have filed a lawsuit against the city.
“The Norwalk City Council’s failure to reverse this ban, despite knowing it is unlawful, is inexcusable,” Gov. Gavin Newsom said in a statement Nov. 4 announcing the lawsuit’s filing. “No community should turn its back on its residents in need.”
Norwalk Mayor Margarita Rios issued a statement in response to the state’s legal action: “The City is disappointed with the state’s approach as it was hopeful that it could reach a resolution without litigation. The City will nevertheless continue to reach out to state stakeholders in its approach to forge partnerships in line with Attorney General Bonta’s statement supporting collaborative solutions to these important issues.”
The total cost of the Veterans Villas project, which included funding from the city and a $5.8 million state grant, was estimated at $42.8 million, according to a report by Urbanize Los Angeles in March.
More information about Veterans Villas in on the city’s website, Norwalk.org/veteran.
