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PROJECT ROOMKEY OPENS DOOR TO GET UNHOUSED OFF THE STREET
2021 SPRING-SUMMER
BY JUAN MENDOZA
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PHOTOS BY FRANK MARTINEZ
VIEWS OF DOWNTOWN L.A. HIGH-RISES AND PANORAMAS OF THE HOLLYWOOD HILLS SEEM LIKE POSH SHELTER FOR HIGH-RISK HOMELESS INDIVIDUALS. BUT A PLACE TO LAY THEIR HEAD IS OFTEN JUST THE BEGINNING OF A LAUNDRY LIST OF ISSUES THAT SHOULD BE ADDRESSED.
Doors opened at the Mayfair Hotel in 1926 and attracted glamorous Hollywood musicians, artists, writers and performers to the dramatic public rooms.
The property faded over the decades, but new owners began a renovation of the historic 15-story hotel in 2014.
In March of 2020, a housing shortage exacerbated by the pandemic, forced the hand of city and state officials. The Los Angeles Homeless
Service Authority (LAHSA), partnered with the
City of Los Angeles, the County Health Department and Public Health Services, mental health and federal partners to start Project Roomkey. Now, the
Mayfair Hotel welcomes a different type of longerterm guest.
“Marco” has called the renovated hotel home since last Thanksgiving. He stands on the street outside the building, like many guests during the day. In addition to the room, “Marco” receives three hot meals a day. He says he is satisfied with that.
“Before, I was in a homeless shelter on Broadway and Main Street in Downtown L.A.,” he said.
In the middle of the conversation, a woman walked out of the Mayfair. She approached “Marco,” grabbed him by the arm and led him inside the building.
‘It’s my nurse,” he said.
The state program has helped 10% of all homeless in California during the pandemic. But the homeless need more than a room. Training, new skills and access to social services help the unhoused to re-enter society.
The purpose of Project Roomkey is to help the most vulnerable homeless populations at risk for coronavirus infections, like seniors and people with disabilities and mental health issues.
The candidates for the program are the homeless who are found in the most critical conditions or considered a high risk for COVID-19, like seniors, people with disabilities or mental health issues.
“The threat of COVID finally led the state and federal governments to do something,” said L.A. Mayor Eric Garcetti recently during his State of the City address. “I’ve been banging the table about it for a long time. Treat it like an emergency.”
Garcetti says the program has helped thousands of the most vulnerable Angelenos find temporary shelter in trailers, motels and hotels.
The Mayfair is just one of many Los Angeles hotels whose owners signed up for the program to help mitigate the housing shortage during the pandemic. Hotels experienced a high cancellation rate in the first six months of the pandemic, so Project Roomkey looked like a win-win situation for both parties.
One of the safety procedures of the hotel does not allow residents to congregate inside the building.
(Left) Shelter: At-risk homeless individuals receive shelter at the historic Mayfair Hotel to decrease their chances of contracting COVID-19 on the streets. In April, the 15-story-hotel filled with homeless clients.
(Right) Signs of Life: Clients from Project Roomkey congregate on a corner near Seventh Street in downtown L.A. Residents who have been vaccinated say they feel comfortable enough to meet outdoors and chat with friends. (Bottom) Neo-classical architecture: New owners renovated the Mayfair Hotel in 2014. It retains its art deco flair.
BECAUSE WE ARE HOMELESS, PEOPLE STIGMATIZE US AND BELIEVE THAT WE ARE NOT ABLE TO CHANGE OUR HABITS AND BEHAVIOR. IT IS UP TO US TO CHANGE AND EDUCATE OURSELVES AND LOOK FOR NEW OPPORTUNITIES.
2021 SPRING-SUMMER
Most of them leave their room during the day to go outside to socialize with their friends and fellow residents.
Many of them have nowhere else to go. So they congregate on the sidewalk outside in front of the hotel where they chat and some drink. Trash litters the sidewalk where they gather. Parts of the building exterior appear to be deteriorating.
At the entrance to the lobby, program participants must pass through a security check, which includes a head-to-toe pat-down. They pass through a metal detector and receive a temperature check before they may have access to their room. A safe and secure place to stay is one of the stated goals of the program. Besides a place to lay their heads and daily sustenance, no job training or other career support services are offered.
“Homeless are referred to a case worker, and they need to sign a contract and work with a case manager to get housing,” said a staff member who chose to remain anonymous. “Once they get a house it’s either co-op living, or their own apartment, depends on what they qualify for.”
“Ralph” was living on the streets before he came to Project Roomkey and the Mayfair Hotel. He struggled with substance abuse and became separated from his children and family.
“I came here because the social worker was doing visits to us on the street and giving us some food,” “Ralph” said, as he stood on the sidewalk and looked for his identification badge to get into the hotel. “One day she offered me a room, and I accepted. And she helped me to fill out the application, and this is how I ended up here like a rehab.”
“Ralph” spoke to the Collegian Times about the stresses of living on the street. He says there is an uncertainty at the end of each day and another at the beginning of the night.
“The most important thing is to have a roof, a place to stay,” he said. “I feel safe in this place, I feel good in my room. They provide me hot meals, and it’s all that I get.”
“Ralph” signed a three-month contract at the Mayfair Hotel. The social worker promised to find permanent housing after his contract ends.
Each program participant works with a case manager to create an exit plan. The obvious goal is permanent housing. But if for any reason that is not possible, they will be housed in a shelter or other options will be explored
Life has been difficult for “Ralph” living on the street over the last few years. Now, he is in a rehabilitation program and cleaning himself up. He plans to find his family and reunite with his three children, a daughter and two sons, ages 23, 22, and 18 years old, who live in Simi Valley.
There are 294 rooms at the Mayfair Hotel, and it remains 95 percent occupied. Project Roomkey has been extended until September 2021.∫
