March 1, 2019
Dear Neighbor,
Continuing our community-wide conversation on solutions to end our City’s
homelessness crisis, I wanted to provide you with the latest updates.
As I wrote to you in November 2018, I agreed with the City Administrative Officer’s
recommendation to end proposed plans to evaluate 15314 Dickens Street for
permanent supportive housing. In the same letter, I wrote that my office was still
seeking approval from the Army Reserve to access their empty, unutilized lot at 5161
Sepulveda Boulevard. The Army Reserve’s lack of response to both the City of Los
Angeles as well as Senator Dianne Feinstein’s office is evidence of their unwillingness
to help local partners take on serious issues. Until the Army Reserve retracts its refusal,
this site is no longer considered a viable option.
Despite these announcements, I promised that I would continue to work towards
concrete solutions to address homelessness in Sherman Oaks. Therefore, I am pleased
to let you know about a proposal to construct supportive housing for senior citizens who
have experienced homelessness at 14534 -14536 Burbank Boulevard.
This development would have a meaningful impact for our homeless population, and it
would provide much-needed housing for the most vulnerable among us. While
homelessness in LA County went down slightly last year, it surged by 22% for people 62
years and older.
That is why I am encouraged to see Mercy Housing, the nonprofit developer of this site,
step up and provide solutions to our homelessness crisis. I trust that Mercy Housing has
the skill and knowledge to effectively build and manage this housing. Founded in 1981
and with 132 properties across 36 counties in California, Mercy Housing has proven to
be a good neighbor and would contribute to the Sherman Oaks community.
While this proposal is still at an early stage, Mercy Housing has applied for funding for
this project from Proposition HHH, a proposal passed by the voters of Los Angeles in
2016 with 77% support. Further, the Los Angeles Housing and Community Investment
Department recently recommended 23 projects for the latest round of Prop HHH funding
disbursements, including Mercy Housing’s proposed Burbank Boulevard Senior
Housing. These funding recommendations will come before the City Council’s
Homelessness and Poverty Committee on Wednesday, March 6, 2019.

 As Mercy Housing continues to engage the neighbors around this site and the broader
community, I invite you to get involved. To learn more about this project, ask questions,
and get updates, please go to http://courb.co/bblvd
I would also like to express my gratitude to the dozens of Sherman Oaks community
members who joined the over 8,000 volunteers county-wide to participate in the 2019
Greater Los Angeles Homeless Count in January. The annual count provides criticallyneeded data for federal, state, county, and city governments to use in crafting solutions
and allocating resources to solve this crisis.
Finally, I was honored to join Aviva Family and Children’s Services on February 28,
2019 as they broke ground on renovations to their historic residence that will become a
home for 42 young women who have experienced homelessness. This marks the third
project currently in construction in my council district with the assistance of City funds
that will provide housing solutions for our neighbors who have experienced
homelessness, joining the LGBT Center and the former Gardner Library. For additional
information and updates, please visit my website at www.davidryu.lacity.org and sign up
for my newsletter.
Thank you for your continued interest in making your neighborhoods and our City a
better place.
Sincerely,
David E. Ryu
Councilmember, District Four