L.A. is finally getting on board with a homelessness solution
By Jon F. Vein and Freya Estreller
Across Los Angeles, homelessness remains one of the most visible and urgent challenges of our time. Despite massive public investment, the crisis persists. But now, something promising is taking root—Los Angeles is embracing a proven model that’s working across California.
HOUSING built by DignityMoves in Thousand Oaks.
DignityMoves, the nonprofit behind a wave of innovative interim housing communities, is expanding its footprint in L.A. With projects underway in Hollywood and one completed in nearby Thousand Oaks, the city is finally getting on board with a solution designed for speed, dignity, and scale.
A smarter bridge to permanent housing
DignityMoves doesn’t build shelters—it builds stability. Its interim supportive housing (ISH) model offers private rooms with doors that lock, 24/7 staffing, and onsite services like case management, job counseling and mental health care. It’s a far cry from congregate shelters that many people understandably avoid.
Each community is developed on underutilized land using modular construction from vendors like LifeArk and Boss Cubez. Some are pop-up villages; others are semi-permanent. All are designed to meet people where they are—and help them move forward.
ISH is not a replacement for permanent housing, but a necessary and missing link in the housing continuum. “Think of it as an on-ramp,” says Elizabeth Funk, Founder and CEO of DignityMoves. “It gives people a safe place to land while they work on a path to stability.”
It’s working—and fast
In Santa Barbara, the county partnered with DignityMoves in a bold “DignityNOW” strategy to end unsheltered homelessness countywide. Three sites are already open, more are in the pipeline, and visible encampments have been replaced with clean, vibrant communities. At one downtown site, over 70% of residents moved on to permanent housing within a year.
DIGNITYMOVES housing in La Posada, Santa Barbara County.
In San Jose, Mayor Matt Mahan’s embrace of interim housing—paired with DignityMoves’ communities like Via del Oro—has led to real results. While California saw a 10.3% increase in unsheltered homelessness last year, San Jose saw a 10.7% decrease.
The model is replicable, cost effective and fast. A DignityMoves room can be built in as little as six months for around $75,000—compared to up to $837,000 per unit for traditional permanent housing in Los Angeles.
Prevention is the key
Here’s a sobering truth: 80% of people who fall into homelessness initially do not have serious mental illness or addiction issues. But after six months on the street, that flips. Prolonged homelessness creates trauma and makes recovery far harder.
Interim housing gives people a chance to catch their breath before the damage deepens. With stability, people reconnect to services, family and purpose. And the impact isn’t just personal—it’s financial.
In Santa Clara County, a study found that leaving someone homeless on the street costs over $80,000 per year in emergency services. By contrast, a year in a DignityMoves community costs less than half that—and delivers far better outcomes.
Building momentum in L.A.
Los Angeles has taken some important steps with its tiny home villages and encampment resolutions. Now, with DignityMoves, the city is adding a new, scalable tool to its homelessness response.
The organization’s unique “capital accelerator” model uses private philanthropy to unlock public dollars, speeding up development. In 2024 alone, DignityMoves raised over $20 million in private funds, catalyzing $99 million in public investment.
More than a housing developer, DignityMoves is a systems-change leader—helping cities navigate emergency powers, streamline approvals and build public trust. Their approach has earned bipartisan support in Sacramento, where recent legislation has formally recognized interim housing as a key component of homelessness solutions.
A future we can Build now
DignityMoves isn’t claiming to solve homelessness overnight. But they are showing what’s possible when cities act urgently and compassionately. Private rooms, supportive services and fast deployment are a winning combination—one that brings people inside quickly and helps them move forward.
For too long, our streets have served as the waiting room for permanent housing. With DignityMoves, Los Angeles is proving that we can do better. The question is no longer whether we can solve this crisis—it’s whether we’re ready to build what works.
Category: Real Estate
