Proposed Halfway House Stirs Controversy

By Olin Ericksen
Staff Writer

September 26 -- The fate and funding of a controversial halfway house for the mentally ill planned near local schools remains up in the air, as the issue lands in the laps of City Council members for first time Tuesday night.

Step-up-on-Second -- a local non-profit that assists the mentally ill -- is already in escrow on the property at 1826-1828 Pearl Street, but some Sunset Park residents argue that the house is too close to John Adams Middle School and Will Rogers Elementary.

They are expected to ask the council to relocate the facility, which would be used to treat clients between the ages of 18 and 28 for illness that include depression, bipolar disorder and schizophrenia.

“Speaking personally… it concerns me that a mental health facility can be installed next to what is essentially a single family home on a two-lane residential street, without the City requiring any notification of nearby residents or a public hearing,” said Sunset Park resident Zina Josephs.

A board member of Friends of Sunset Park, Josephs said the neighborhood group has not officially taken a stand on the project. But she noted that several residents aired passionate views against, as well as for, the housing at a packed meeting of the neighborhood group this month.

“Some speakers favored the project,” Josephs said, “and others were vehemently opposed.”

Todd Lipka, executive director of Step-Up-On-Second, says the housing is the right size in the right neighborhood.

“When all is said and done, my guess is that nobody’s going to notice anything different about the house from all the others in the neighborhood,” Lipka said.

“This gives (the clients) a chance at a normal life,” said Lipka, noting that the facility would be near other social services and less than a block from Santa Monica College, offering clients a chance to attend school.

Furthermore, the square footage would be large enough for the non-profit’s needs, he said.

The agency will provide 24-hour supervision and heavily screen of potential clients, Lipka said.

“Those with any history of violence will not be allowed,” he said.

While many residents have said they sympathize with the need to establish such housing -- which may be the only home keeping such young adults off the streets -- some worry about “dumping” social services in the southeastern section of the City.

Lipka said he has canvassed the neighborhood door-to-door and plans more outreach, including a meeting October 12.

As for the dumping of social services, Lipka said he understands residents concerns.

Both Sunset Park and the nearby Pico neighborhood already have a number of social service projects, he acknowledged.

“I’m sympathetic to the neighbors’ concerns about social services in neighborhoods,” said Lipka. “We would gladly look to put such services North of Montana (Avenue), but it is not zoned that way.”

Indeed, zoning is a thorny issue, since the halfway house appears to be located in an area that allows such projects to be approved administratively by the City without a discretionary review.

Since the Friends meeting, the City has rejected a $1.73 million loan, because the application submitted by Step-Up-On-Second was based on the number of beds, not the number of units, as required by State guidelines, according to housing officials Tuesday.

The agency was allowed to submit an application for a smaller amount, estimated between $400,000 and $500,000, said Bob Moncrief, director of the City’s housing Division.

Although the project is in the midst of a 120-day escrow, Moncrief said the non-profit must demonstrate that it can come up with the full amount, or forfeit what is essentially a down payment.

“They have to prove they can raise quite a bit more,” said Moncrief. “They have to show full financial investment before the project is secured.”

While council members are scheduled to hear the public request towards the end of the meeting, which is listed as item 12-A, it is unknown what comment or action the council members may take.