The City Council received an update on homelessness in Culver City. Tevis Barnes, Housing and Human Services Director, introduced a new initiative in partnership with Urban Alchemy. The “LOVE Team” — Leading Outreach with Valued Engagement — is a dedicated outreach team focused on approaching and supporting individuals experiencing homelessness. All four practitioners of the team have lived experience of homelessness or other challenges, providing the opportunity to better connect with those who are struggling to accept services, ultimately leading people to return to permanent shelter. Urban Alchemy will continue to partner with the City of Culver City in outreach and operation of the Wellness Village.
City Council also received an update from Healthcare in Action (HIA), a street-based medical group that provides comprehensive healthcare services for individuals experiencing homelessness. Since beginning its partnership with the City in 2024, HIA has served 152 patients. Of those patients, 91% received case management services, 77% received medical care, 38% received mental health treatment, 29% received substance use treatment, and 68% of patients engaged in five or more visits.
Barnes shared that the City successfully conducted its point-in-time count for the 2025 Greater Los Angeles Homeless Count on February 20th. Official numbers will be released in several months following the certification from the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority (LAHSA).
During severe weather, Barnes noted, the City will continue to activate its Severe Weather Protocol. Unhoused neighbors are offered safe havens through the Motel Master Leasing Program and Wellness Village, with Culver City Fire and Police Departments, alongside the LOVE Team, actively locating people experiencing homelessness in distress or at risk of harm. Winter shelters are also still available through March 31st.
The City’s Housing and Human Services also unveiled a new resource for residents, the Homeless Outreach Request Portal. The new digital tool, which will be available on the City’s website in the coming weeks, will allow the public to submit outreach requests. Each request will be mapped, allowing for City teams to pinpoint areas of high need, ensuring resources are directed where they are most effective. The public can create a ticket simply by providing their name, the date, and location of the unhoused individual in need of assistance. All other information in the form will be collected at the users’ discretion.
Barnes completed the update with a snapshot of services as of February 21st. Currently Project Homekey’s permanent supportive housing has 37 residents, with the interim housing hosting 33 residents. Wellness Village, also known as the Safe Sleep Site, has 20 guests. A total of 87 people has participated in Wellness Village since the start of the program in August 2023. A total of 45 guests have moved to Project Homekey and other housing resources. Thirty-three guests are enrolled at the Motel Master Leasing and Nutrition Program. The Mobile Crisis team, which officially launched April 3, 2024, has engaged 726 people, answered 2,024 crisis hotline calls, conducted 138 mental health assessments and helped 60 people be placed into the Motel Master Leasing and Wellness Village.The Mobile Crisis Team announced it will host the 2nd Annual Mental Health Wellness Fair on Wednesday, April 23, 2025, at the City Hall Courtyard. The event will bring in dozens of resources and organizations from around the area, including activities for the community.
City Council Considers Additional Funding for Affordable Housing Project
Jubilo Village is a proposed 100% affordable housing development at 4464 Sepulveda Boulevard that is designed to provide 93 affordable one, two and three-bedroom apartments to at-risk and low-income households.
Jubilo Village’s developer, Community Corporation of Santa Monica, has asked the City for a $16 million residual receipts loan, to fill the current gap in funding for the project. The City Council discussed the issue but did not make a decision. The City Council will revisit the Jubilo Village Project proposal at its March 10, 2025 meeting to help identify potential ways to close the $16 million funding gap.
Culver City has a long history of support for the Jubilo Village. In 2021, the City approved a commitment to the Project of a $2 million construction and permanent loan. In 2022, the City increased its previous loan commitment to $4 million. In 2023, the City served as a receiver for a $1 million State of California grant facilitated by Assemblymember Isaac Bryan for the Project. Finally, City staff has recommended to the City Council that it award 42 Project Based Vouchers to the project. Project Based Vouchers represent funding that the City receives from the federal government for affordable housing. In this case, the funding would represent an annual income stream for the project of approximately $824,976 per year for 20 years. The City Council will consider this recommendation at a future City Council meeting.