Two former senior living buildings will be converted into supportive housing for individuals with serious mental illness, sparking debate over safety, oversight, and local control.
The Santa Monica City Council is not directly approving the new facility; however, a 49-bed supportive housing project is slated to open imminently in two former senior living buildings located on the 400 block of Ocean Avenue.
Operated by the St. Joseph Center and funded by a Los Angeles County grant under Proposition 1, the development will feature 24/7 staffing and an “open-door” policy, allowing residents to come and go freely.
The city, however, did not initiate or select the site. According to Mayor Lana Negrete, local officials only learned of the plan after permit applications were filed. “The City found out after permits were filed—and that’s when I was informed and immediately shared with the public,” she said.
Negrete also voiced concern about whether open-door supportive housing is suitable for individuals with severe mental illness, stating, “Many of the people who need help the most won’t get better in open-door facilities. They need secure hospital settings with real treatment — for their safety and ours.”
St. Joseph Center has clarified that participants will be referred and vetted by the County Department of Mental Health, with priority given to Santa Monica residents. At least 15 of the 49 beds will be reserved for residents of the city.
Residents must demonstrate the capacity for independent living in daily routines; those requiring more intensive care will be referred elsewhere. St. Joseph also announced that the project is temporary, with an expected duration of up to five years. The facility will include a controlled entry point with 24-hour security staffing, and no visitors will be allowed without prior approval.
Pushback from neighbors has been vigorous. One resident, Cort Wagner, said, “Everybody here pays a premium, and the safety is less than anywhere else in the city.” Another, Derrick Townsend, complained, “For the county to be able to just come in and place this right in the neighborhood, I find it to be a little confusing for everyone.”
Supervisor Lindsey Horvath, in her office’s statement to the Santa Monica Daily Press, admitted that county officials failed to notify local leadership, “The Department of Mental Health did not inform my office about this project until after funding had already been secured—and that’s unacceptable.
She emphasized the need for mental health beds in the area and stated that the county is exploring increased accountability and transparency.
The push to expand behavioral health housing reflects mounting pressure on counties and states to reduce cycling through emergency rooms, homelessness, and incarceration for those with untreated mental illness. California’s Proposition 1 provides funding to counties for supportive housing projects.
In Santa Monica, Ocean Avenue is a highly prized, scenic coastal corridor lined with luxury hotels, homes, and public park space. That heightens the tension when such a facility is placed near high-value neighborhoods.
City officials note that, under state and county law, municipalities have limited authority to block or regulate supportive housing once it meets eligibility requirements. The controversy hinges on striking a balance between community safety, municipal oversight, and the urgent need for services to vulnerable individuals.
A town hall meeting is expected soon to allow residents to raise concerns and ask questions, but most sources suggest the facility’s opening is already likely.
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