Well, turns out the auditors were onto something. This week the Los Angeles city controller released another audit saying the average cost of building a single unit of housing for the homeless has risen to $531,000. The auditor recommends rehab motels and open dormitory-style buildings to save money and get people off the streets quickly. Two of the projects average $750,000 per unit. Initial projections four years ago were $350,000 and the rise is blamed in part by rising construction costs.
“We can and must do better,” said Controller Ron Galperin.
This is why Homes 4 the Homeless was started: to find more affordable housing solutions that will help people facing chronic homelessness, temporary homelessness or who have lost their homes to natural disasters. This is why we are encouraged that LA and other hot spots are considering our approach of modular housing.