L. A. Opens Van Nuys Armory as a Shelter; 18 Homeless Show Up

With cold and possibly rainy weather forecast for the San Fernando Valley, the city of Los Angeles on Monday opened the National Guard Armory in Van Nuys to the homeless for the first time this winter.

Only about 18 people showed up at the armory, but officials said the low turnout was typical for the first night.

“It’s a little bit difficult getting the word out on the first night,” said Precilla Ortiz, assistant coordinator of the city program.

Those who did come “were happy for a warm place,” she said.

They were provided with a cot and blanket, and received a free dinner and breakfast.

Some, like Thomas Benson, would have spent a chilly and wet night on the streets if not for the shelter. “I’d either be in a sleeping bag or in the back of an abandoned car,” Benson said. “I’m kind of on the streets for a week.”

Benson was on his way to the library in Van Nuys, a popular hideaway until closing for the homeless during cold weather, when he happened to see a city bus at one of the pickup sites.

“I hadn’t heard a thing about it,” he said. “There are some others at the library. I wish they knew it was open.”

Under the program, city-provided shelters are opened if the National Weather Service predicts temperatures below 40 degrees or temperatures below 50 degrees and a better than 50% chance of rain.

The armory is used to shelter single adults and couples. Families in need of shelter are directed to Valley Shelter Inc. in North Hollywood, operated by L. A. Family Housing. In the event that space at the shelter runs out, families are given vouchers for local motels.

Nancy Bianconi, director of housing for L. A. Family Housing, said the group was providing the service to the city on a temporary basis until another agency can be found.

Meanwhile, the city is still considering a plan to hire a private nonprofit group to operate a continuous homeless shelter program during the coldest part of the year.

Under that program, homeless shelters would be open continuously instead of being open only when bad weather is forecast. Under consideration are options for a 30-day program to operate from Dec. 22 to Jan. 22 or a 60-day program from Dec. 16 to Feb. 14.

The continuous program has been endorsed by Mayor Tom Bradley, and the City Council has encouraged it.

Bids from interested organizations are being reviewed by the Community Development Department, which runs the homeless shelter program, Ortiz said.

Ortiz said the Van Nuys armory probably would not be the site for a continuous program. The National Guard has indicated that it would not allow the armory to be used nightly for an extended period of time, she said.

Only one site is proposed for the Valley, she said. Seven others would be in other parts of the city under the private contracting program now under review.

Pickup points where buses take homeless people to the armory are Van Nuys City Hall; Valley Community Clinic, 5648 Vineland Ave., North Hollywood; the public parking lot at Osborne Street and Foothill Boulevard near the Hansen Dam Recreation Center, and El Central de Armistad, 7024 Deering Ave., Canoga Park.

A 24-hour hot line, (800) 548-6047, has been set up to direct homeless individuals to the available services.