As of May 22, all 12 pallet homes in the City of Hawthorne’s Bridge of Hope Community Housing are occupied. This community provides interim shelter for unhoused individuals in Hawthorne, with a targeted stay of 90 to 180 days.
The official Bridge of Hope groundbreaking was held on November 30, 2022, and the community’s ribbon-cutting ceremony took place on Monday, April 11, just over a month before occupants filled all units. A 3800-square-foot City-owned lot at 131st St. and Simms Ave. hosts all 12 64-square-foot homes. The City has outfitted all units with lockable doors and windows, secure ventilation, a folding bed with a custom-fit mattress, a folding desk, electricity, a wall-mounted heater, an air conditioner, a fire extinguisher, a smoke detector, a carbon monoxide detector, slip-resistant floors and storage. The community also offers a kitchen, ingredient pantry and laundry room.
“We’ve created a 5-year plan to resolve homelessness in Hawthorne, and this was one of our key items: to create housing for those unhoused,” said City Manager Vontray Norris. “I am proud of the resources offered by Bridge of Hope and am intent on expanding our assistance to Hawthorne’s unhoused community members.”
When individuals move into the community housing units, they are partnered with service providers who will help prepare them for life after Bridge of Hope. These City employees will work with residents to access job training, three daily meals, housing navigation, medical care and connection to additional services offered by Hawthorne’s housing and homelessness staff.
CDBG CARES Act dollars, the American Rescue Plan Act awards, Permanent Local Housing Allocation (PLHA) grants and a HOME American Rescue Plan (ARP) allocation fund the Bridge of Hope Community Housing project. This initial iteration of the project will continue for three years or until all available funds have been exhausted.
Learn more about the City of Hawthorne’s housing resources at https://www.cityofhawthorne.org/departments/community-services/housing-and-homelessness-resources