New $106 Million Mental Health Village in Norwalk: Key Details You Should Know
Los Angeles County Breaks Ground on $106 Million Mental Health Village in Norwalk
LOS ANGELES COUNTY, Calif. – Local officials and state leaders marked a significant milestone on Friday with the groundbreaking of the LA County Care Community, a $106 million mental health and housing initiative located in Norwalk. This project aims to repurpose six long-vacant structures on the Metropolitan State Hospital campus to meet the urgent needs of individuals battling serious mental illnesses and homelessness.
The LA County Care Community will span 13 acres of state land, featuring six renovated buildings centered around a communal courtyard. Constructed in the 1920s, these historic buildings have remained dormant for years. The facility is designed as a holistic healthcare village, offering a continuum of care with a total of 162 beds.
The facility will include 32 beds in secured rehabilitation centers for young adults, 70 interim housing beds for those in need of short-term stability, and 60 permanent supportive housing apartments. Funding for the project primarily comes from $65 million allocated through Proposition 1, a 2024 ballot measure focused on financing behavioral health treatment and infrastructure.
Los Angeles County Supervisor Janice Hahn emphasized the project’s significance, stating, “Voters want us to take vacant buildings and put them to good use. By locking arms with the state, LA County is transforming these vacant buildings into a mental healthcare village where people can get the safe, professional, and compassionate treatment and housing they desperately need.”
State Senator Bob Archuleta echoed that sentiment, calling the groundbreaking “an important step forward in addressing California’s growing mental health and homelessness crisis.”
The renovation of the interim housing site and the two mental health rehabilitation centers will be managed by Swinerton, with completion anticipated by December 2027 for the interim housing, and January 2028 for the rehabilitation centers. There is no established timeline yet for the permanent supportive housing facilities.
Once operational, the LA County Department of Mental Health will oversee the site. To enhance the project’s local impact, the department has committed to reserving a portion of the interim housing beds specifically for individuals experiencing homelessness in Norwalk.
