The completion of The Bellflower New Hope Temporary Service Shelter is the first of such homeless shelters to open in Los Angeles County and opened only five months after a location, architect (Studio One Eleven) and general contractor (Howard CDM) were identified. Homeless and transitional housing centers in Los Angeles County can take up to three years to permit and two years or more to construct. The team worked together and used “self-certification” to expedite the issuance of building permits while working closely with inspectors to provide a much needed service for the community.

The 18,370 SF conventional warehouse, located at 8833 Cedar St., transformed from an empty metal warehouse to a state-of-the-art 50-bed shelter. The shelter includes three sleeping rooms: one with 15 beds for women, one with 10 beds for five couples and one with 25 beds for men, laundry room, an outdoor community space and dog run.

With the building’s exposed ceiling at intake/lobby and dining area to create vaulted ceilings. The New Hope is a navigation center providing much needed services to Bellflower’s homeless population, all made possible through the support and funding from Los Angeles County Supervisor Janice Hahn as well as City funds.

New Hope’s operator, Mercy House, began intake of homeless individuals and help program participants with creating a housing plan, making connections to housing resources and ending their homelessness as soon as possible. The program maintains a strict no-walkup policy and depends on referrals from local non-profit organizations, contracted homeless liaisons and the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.