Subject: Support for the West L.A. Armory Project
Dear Supervisor Horvath,
I am writing to share my strong support for the West L.A. Armory housing project and to encourage you to stay the course despite the misinformation circulating online and in local petitions. This project represents the kind of evidence-based, compassionate solution Los Angeles needs, and it has already been mischaracterized by opponents using fear rather than facts.
The Armory site has a proven history. For more than ten years, it operated safely as a 160-bed winter shelter run by LAHSA and the National Guard. There were no public safety issues, no crime wave, and no disruption to the neighborhood. The new plan simply upgrades that temporary program into a permanent, service-rich facility that can actually help people move from crisis to stability.
This project is legal and carefully reviewed. It qualifies as a Low Barrier Navigation Center under California law, which makes it a use by right and exempt from CEQA. The property itself is federally owned and leased through the California Department of General Services, not the VA, which means it is not covered by the Bandini-Jones covenant that applies to parts of the VA campus.
The design prioritizes safety and dignity. It includes 24-hour staffing and security, controlled entry with no walk-ins, private cubicles, and separate areas for women and couples. Residents will be brought in through designated pickup locations, just as they were under the winter shelter model. The building’s solid walls facing the Armory, its fencing, and secure operations all ensure safety for both residents and neighbors.
Opponents have circulated exaggerated claims about crime and drug use that are not supported by evidence. Research from UCLA and LAHSA shows no link between supportive housing and local crime increases, and LAPD data have not found correlations between bridge housing sites and neighborhood safety issues. The Housing First model used here has been proven to reduce unsheltered homelessness and help people stabilize faster and stay housed longer.
This facility is also a matter of fairness. West Los Angeles has some of the highest incomes in the county but some of the lowest numbers of shelter beds. The Armory project is a chance for our region to do its share in addressing homelessness responsibly, with care and professionalism rather than panic.
Homeless deaths have risen sharply in recent years. Every delay driven by fear and misinformation prolongs the suffering of people living outside. By moving forward with this project, the County will be saving lives and setting a standard for how government can respond with both urgency and compassion.
Thank you for your leadership and for refusing to let fear overshadow the facts. Many of us in the community stand with you in full support of this project and the values it represents.
