Willow Tree

CEO - Homeless Initiative

County Spending Category
1.1 Housing for People Experiencing Homelessness
Federal Expenditure Category
Long-term Housing Security: Affordable Housing
Project Launch Date
07/31/2025
Anticipated End Date
12/31/2026
Project Contacts Indicators & Metrics Target Populations Project Description Goals & Objectives

Project Contacts

Indicators & Metrics to Date

  • Number of Households Receiving Eviction Prevention Services (Including Legal Representation)
    0
  • Number of Affordable Housing Units Preserved or Developed
    0
  • Number of Jobs Created
    0
  • Number of Applicants
    0
  • Number of Applications Approved
    0
  • Number of Grants Provided
    0
  • Number of Families
    0
  • Number of Residents
    0
  • Number of Business Served
    0
  • Number of FTEs assigned/rehired for this program
    0
  • Number of Applicants Approved
    0
  • Partner with homeless provider
    0
  • Board Approval
    0
  • State approval to transfer through changes in standard amendments
    0
  • Enter into Funding Agreements with each developer
    0
  • Construction Progress
    0
  • Number of Community Engagements
    0
  • Entering Plan Check
    0
  • Beginning Construction
    0
  • 20% Construction Complete
    0
  • 50% Construction Complete
    0
  • 75% Construction Complete
    0
  • Construction Complete
    0
  • Lease up process underway
    0
  • 50% Lease Up
    0
  • 100% Lease Up
    0
  • Number of PEH Served
    0
  • Percent retaining housing after 12 months
    0
  • 40% Construction Complete
    0

Target Populations

  • People Experiencing Homelessness
  • People with Disabilities
  • Systems Impacted Individuals
  • Systems Involved Individuals
  • Individuals Experiencing Mental Health Disorders
  • Individuals Experiencing Substance Use Disorders

Project Description

As a part of the State of California’s Department of Housing and Community Development’s (HCD’s) Project Homekey (PHK) Round 1 Program, the County of Los Angeles applied for funding to acquire properties that will be used as permanent supportive housing (PSH) for people experiencing homelessness (PEH). On September 29, 2020, and October 13, 2020, the Board of Supervisors authorized the acquisition of ten (10) motels/hotel sites for rehabilitation and conversion into Permanent Supportive Housing (PSH) for people experiencing homelessness (PEH) or at high risk of experiencing homelessness. The County utilized the Cares Act funding grant for the acquisition and County provided for the local match required for the acquisition, rehabilitation, and operation of these properties, including the Willow Tree Inn in Compton, CA (the property is currently comprised of two, two-story motel buildings and the rehab will result in 100 units of PSH). The acquisition, rehabilitation and operation of the Willow Tree Inn is part of this larger initiative to Convert Interim Housing Units to Permanent Housing that will provide housing for the most vulnerable residents of the County of Los Angeles, all of whom have been impacted by COVID-19. With the onset of the pandemic, the number of deaths among PEH in the County increased, going from 1,271 deaths pre-pandemic (March 31, 2019-April 1, 2020) to 1,988 deaths (April 1, 2020-March 31, 2021). While COVID-19 became the third leading cause of death among PEH in the post-pandemic onset year, the overall increase was driven to an equal or more considerable degree by increases in overdoses, homicide, congenital heart disease, and traffic injury deaths. Evidence shows the COVID-19 pandemic may have exacerbated stressors already present in the lives of PEH, leading to increases in other causes of death, even as we redoubled our COVID-19 prevention efforts in this population. The Project HomeKey Round 1 Program (including the acquisition, rehab and operation of Willow Tree Inn) will help reduce these stressors and create more stability for PEH, increasing their ability to secure safe housing and comprehensive supportive services to stabilize and maintain their housing.

Goals & Objectives

Goal Description The Project’s key goal is to: Create 100 units of permanent supportive housing for People Experiencing Homelessness (PEH) or at high risk of experiencing homelessness, and who are disproportionately affected by the COVID-19 pandemic due to their significantly higher levels of medical vulnerability to the virus, as well as the economic instability they face on an ongoing basis.

Objective Description By April 30, 2025, Create 100 units of permanent supportive housing at the Willow Tree Inn site for People Experiencing Homelessness (PEH) or at high risk of experiencing homelessness, and who are disproportionately affected by the COVID-19 pandemic due to their significantly higher levels of medical vulnerability to the virus, as well as the economic instability they face on an ongoing basis.

Activity Description Provide solicitation process for qualified entities to apply.
Indicators
# Type Name Baseline Target
2 Performance Number of Applicants 1.00 2.00

Activity Description Work in partnership with County partners in order to evaluate all applications submitted, and determine qualified project sponsor.
Indicators
# Type Name Baseline Target
1 Program Outcome Number of Applicants Approved 1.00 1.00

Objective Description Objective 2: By 12/31/2022, the organization aims to secure official approvals from the Board of Supervisors and the relevant state authorities for the transfer of a designated property to a selected entity. Additionally, the organization will seek Board approval to formalize funding agreements that will financially support the upcoming renovation efforts for this property.

Activity Description Obtain BOS authorization to transfer property to qualified developer selected through a competitive solicitation process.
Indicators
# Type Name Baseline Target
1 Performance Board Approval 1.00 3.00

Activity Description Obtain State HCD approval to transfer property by submitting all required documentation.
Indicators
# Type Name Baseline Target
1 Performance State approval to transfer through changes in standard amendments 10.00 10.00

Activity Description Enter into funding agreement with property developer. Enter into lease and or purchase and sale agreement depending upon the type of transfer occurring during the construction phase of the project being in either incorporated or unincorporated areas of the County.
Indicators
# Type Name Baseline Target
1 Performance Enter into Funding Agreements with each developer 10.00 10.00

Objective Description Objective 3: Housing for Health will oversee the predevelopment and construction process of the Willow Tree Inn project to ensure that the developer is completing the project on time and on budget with 100% construction completion by 4/30/2025.

Activity Description Weekly check-in monitoring and tracking calls with HFH and Project Developer. HFH's Capital Projects Team will conduct site visits and regularly track the progress of the construction project. HFH subject matter experts will track expenditures.
Indicators
# Type Name Baseline Target
1 Performance Construction Progress 10.00 10.00

Activity Description Complete predevelopment activities for Willow Tree Inn project, including design development, construction documents, and plan check/permitting process.

Activity Description HFH will have regular check-in monitoring and tracking calls with Project Developer. HFH's Capital Projects Team will conduct site visits and regularly track the progress of the construction project. HFH subject matter experts will track expenditures.
Indicators
# Type Name Baseline Target
1 Program Outcome Beginning Construction 1.00 1.00

Activity Description HFH will have regular check-in monitoring and tracking calls with Project Developer. HFH's Capital Projects Team will conduct site visits and regularly track the progress of the construction project. HFH subject matter experts will track expenditures.
Indicators
# Type Name Baseline Target
1 Program Outcome 20% Construction Complete 1.00 1.00

Activity Description HFH will have regular check-in monitoring and tracking calls with Project Developer. HFH's Capital Projects Team will conduct site visits and regularly track the progress of the construction project. HFH subject matter experts will track expenditures.
Indicators
# Type Name Baseline Target
1 Program Outcome 40% Construction Complete 1.00 1.00

Activity Description HFH will have regular check-in monitoring and tracking calls with Project Developer. HFH's Capital Projects Team will conduct site visits and regularly track the progress of the construction project. HFH subject matter experts will track expenditures.

Activity Description HFH will have regular check-in monitoring and tracking calls with Project Developer. HFH's Capital Projects Team will conduct site visits and regularly track the progress of the construction project. HFH subject matter experts will track expenditures.

Activity Description HFH will have regular check-in monitoring and tracking calls with Project Developer. HFH's Capital Projects Team will conduct site visits and regularly track the progress of the construction project. HFH subject matter experts will track expenditures.

Objective Description Objective 4: Project Sponsor will partner with Board offices to engage communities surrounding the Project Homekey site by 6/1/2023

Activity Description Developers will engage with the respective board office and engage with other stakeholders prior to starting construction on the project. Additionally, developer will conduct community engagement activities at the completion of the project prior to tenant occupancy.
Indicators
# Type Name Baseline Target
1 Performance Number of Community Engagements 10.00 30.00

Objective Description Objective 5: Collaborate with developer, the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority, the Department of Health Services, and the LA County Community Development Authority to lease up the properties, ensure that contracts for intensive case management services are executed, and project-based vouchers are contracted for site by 12/31/2024.

Activity Description Work with selected providers to implement agreements with the ICMS provider (DHS)
Indicators
# Type Name Baseline Target
1 Program Outcome Partner with homeless provider 1.00 1.00

Outcome Description Construction of PSH (from IH)
Indicators
# Type Name Baseline Target
1 Program Outcome Construction Progress 0.00 9.00
2 Program Outcome Entering Plan Check 0.00 9.00
3 Program Outcome Beginning Construction 0.00 9.00
4 Program Outcome 20% Construction Complete 0.00 9.00
5 Program Outcome 50% Construction Complete 0.00 9.00
6 Program Outcome 75% Construction Complete 0.00 9.00
7 Program Outcome Construction Complete 0.00 9.00

Outcome Description Connect participants to supportive services, such as mental health & medical care, SUD services, community supports, etc.
Indicators
# Type Name Baseline Target
2 Service Delivery Number of PEH Served 0.00 590.00
3 Service Delivery Percent retaining housing after 12 months 0.00 90.00

Outcome Description Lease us and occupy PSH
Indicators
# Type Name Baseline Target
1 Program Outcome Lease up process underway 0.00 9.00
2 Program Outcome 50% Lease Up 0.00 9.00
3 Program Outcome 100% Lease Up 0.00 9.00

Goal Description By April 30, 2025, deliver comprehensive and personalized supportive services to at least 100 clients currently residing in Permanent Supportive Housing (PSH). The success of this goal will be measured by tracking the number of clients benefitting from these services and assessing their well-being and progress as a direct result of the support provided. To ensure achievability, we will maintain the necessary resources, employ qualified staff, and establish a well-defined support structure. This objective is highly relevant to our organization's mission of aiding vulnerable populations and enhancing their stability and self-sufficiency through PSH programs. The goal is ongoing, reflecting our commitment to continuously provide vital supportive services to PSH clients to address their specific needs and improve their quality of life.