ULI Homeless to Housed Case Study: Holloway Interim Housing Program
The Holloway Interim Housing Program in West Hollywood, California, is a transformative project that repurposes the former Holloway Motel into a 20-room interim supportive housing facility for individuals experiencing homelessness. It is a central component of the City of West Hollywood's Five-Year Plan to Address Homelessness and is expected to open in summer 2025. Residents will be able to stay for 30 to 90 days while receiving wraparound services aimed at helping them transition to permanent housing.
The project was initiated through strong community support and is funded primarily by California's Homekey Program, which provided a $6 million grant. The City of West Hollywood supplemented this funding with reserves from its Affordable Housing Trust Fund and negotiated a development agreement allowing the prior property owner to retain billboard revenue rights—an essential factor in facilitating the sale. The city will also benefit from a share of this revenue to support program operations.
The facility will be operated by Ascencia, a nonprofit providing housing and support services. Residents will be referred by local homeless service providers and must meet the federal definition of chronic homelessness. Services include healthcare, employment readiness, and financial planning, all provided in a trauma-informed, housing-first environment.
The project faced challenges, including the need for environmental remediation, construction delays, utility coordination issues, and wildfires in early 2025. Nevertheless, strategic collaboration among the City, Ascencia, and design/construction teams ensured continued progress.
Once completed, the Holloway Program will double West Hollywood's interim housing capacity, exemplifying how adaptive reuse, state funding, and public-private partnerships can address housing insecurity. It also serves as a replicable model for other cities seeking innovative, community-driven solutions to homelessness.
Case Study Summary: The Holloway Interim Housing Program in West Hollywood, California, is a transformative project that repurposes the former Holloway Motel into a 20-room interim supportive housing facility for individuals experiencing homelessness. It is a central component of the City of West Hollywood's Five-Year Plan to Address Homelessness and is expected to open in summer 2025. Residents will be able to stay for 30 to 90 days while receiving wraparound services aimed at helping them transition to permanent housing.
The project was initiated through strong community support and is funded primarily by California's Homekey Program, which provided a $6 million grant. The City of West Hollywood supplemented this funding with reserves from its Affordable Housing Trust Fund and negotiated a development agreement allowing the prior property owner to retain billboard revenue rights—an essential factor in facilitating the sale. The city will also benefit from a share of this revenue to support program operations.
The facility will be operated by Ascencia, a nonprofit providing housing and support services. Residents will be referred by local homeless service providers and must meet the federal definition of chronic homelessness. Services include healthcare, employment readiness, and financial planning, all provided in a trauma-informed, housing-first environment.
The project faced challenges, including the need for environmental remediation, construction delays, utility coordination issues, and wildfires in early 2025. Nevertheless, strategic collaboration among the City, Ascencia, and design/construction teams ensured continued progress.
Once completed, the Holloway Program will double West Hollywood's interim housing capacity, exemplifying how adaptive reuse, state funding, and public-private partnerships can address housing insecurity. It also serves as a replicable model for other cities seeking innovative, community-driven solutions to homelessness.