Metropolitan State Hospital, located in Norwalk, is one of the few remaining California state mental hospitals originally meant to treat patients with psychiatric illnesses. Today, over 90% of the patients treated at the hospital are involved in the criminal justice system in some way. Many structures on the 162-acre campus have been unoccupied for decades, prompting plans by Los Angeles County Supervisor Janice Hahn and state Sen. Bob Archuleta to utilize a portion of the hospital for supportive housing for the homeless in need of psychiatric or substance use treatment.
However, there are concerns that state and county officials are not thinking broadly enough about how to repurpose underused public facilities. While efforts are being made to convert certain buildings at Metropolitan into supportive housing, patients with any criminal justice involvement would be excluded. This has raised questions about the seriousness of officials in addressing psychiatric illness and homelessness.
There is also a historical link to mental health treatment on the Norwalk campus, making it a potentially ideal location for mental-health oriented housing. Yet, there are concerns that the state may use much of the property for a Highway Patrol office instead.
To address the complex issue of housing and treating the mentally ill, supervisors must consider building small facilities on both private and public parcels, and stand up to objections from cities and communities. By prioritizing care facilities over political concerns, officials can work towards providing necessary support for homeless, addicted, mentally ill, and law-breaking individuals, ultimately benefiting communities as a whole.
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