LA County opens “Skid Row Care Campus” focusing on housing

Last week Los Angeles County and City officials celebrated the opening of the Skid Row Care Campus, a welcoming and safe space for services, connection and community. As part of the celebration, the Skid Row community came together for a lively celebration and service fair. The campus offers a place for Skid Row residents to access hygiene care, case management, health care, harm reduction supplies and more. The plan, developed by Skid Row community members and public, private, and non‐profit organizations, seeks to address systemic racism and disinvestment in Skid Row by supporting a culturally vibrant and thriving community. “The Skid Row Care Campus is a powerful example of what's possible when we truly listen to people and invest in dignity, healing, and meeting individuals where they are,” said Hilda Solis, Los Angeles County Chair Pro Tem and First District Supervisor. “It delivers on the core goals set by the Skid Row Action Plan, an initiative I've proudly championed in close partnership with residents and local stakeholders. This campus centers trauma‐informed care, harm reduction, access to healthcare, and real pathways to permanent housing. This is more than a service hub— it's a clear statement that every life in Skid Row matters, and that everyone deserves safety, health, and hope.” The campus includes: 1) A Safe Services Space featuring a park‐like setting with onsite recreation areas, a garden, a pet area, showers, laundry, and wellness activities, 2) Case management and service booths with rotating resources from Los Angeles County and nonprofit agencies, 3) A Harm Reduction Health Hub, offering health care, respite beds for people who need medical observation, a drop‐in center, harm reduction supplies, a methadone clinic (Opioid Treatment Program), 4) An Enriched Residential Care facility, providing housing and care for people who need assistance with basic activities such as preparing meals, dressing and bathing. The campus is a collaborative effort of local officials, funders, insurance companies, and skid row residents. Dorothy Seleski, Medi‐Cal president at Health Net, said, “Health Net is proud to be part of this groundbreaking initiative that brings critical resources directly to the heart of Skid Row. By combining health care, housing, and community support, the Skid Row Care Campus exemplifies what it means to address homelessness as a public health priority. Together, we are creating pathways to wellness and stability for those who need it most.”