Lashawn Stanley had been struggling to find housing in Long Beach since 2022. She said that her previous apartment flooded, that water damage and mold made it unlivable and left her seriously ill, with severe rashes, swelling and difficulty breathing.
When her landlord failed to fix the problems, she was forced to leave and was left without stable housing, staying with friends or sleeping outside.
A lifelong Long Beach resident and city employee, Stanley said she was too embarrassed to ask for help and always felt that there was someone else who needed the help more than she did. As much as she helps others on a daily basis, Stanley said she decided it was time to help herself too.
Three weeks ago, Stanely moved into her apartment at the newly opened Zephyr Apartments, one of the city’s newest Project Homekey sites.
“This home has given me stability, a feeling of safety,” she said, “it’s a fresh start.”
Stanley – along with fellow Zephyr residents – joined officials from Long Beach and Los Angeles County, Linc Housing and other development partners, to celebrate the grand opening of two Project Homekey communities in Long Beach on Wednesday, Nov. 19. The two projects offer a combined 177 new affordable and supportive apartments for people who have experienced homelessness in the city.
Zephyr, located at 1133 Atlantic Ave., includes 135 studio apartments and two manager’s units, and Crescent, located at 5665 E. Seventh St., has 39 studios and one manager’s unit. Both communities include a community room, outdoor spaces, private offices for case managers, and wraparound services for residents.
“It is so great to be here today in Long Beach as we celebrate the grand opening of the Zephyr and Crescent, two new Project Homekey sites that represent hope and dignity and a better future for our neighbors who need it most,” Los Angeles County Supervisor Janice Hahn said during the event at Zephyr. “Not only do we hope that these apartments allow people who have struggled to undergo a transformation in their lives and enter a new, more beautiful phase of their lives, but these buildings have also been able to undergo an incredible transformation.”
Linc Housing, a Long Beach-based nonprofit developer, renovated two old motels and converted them into the apartment homes; Zephyr was a Holiday Inn and Crescent was a Motel 6.
“With Zephyr and Crescent, we have surpassed 1,000 units of permanent supportive housing as part of the Linc Housing portfolio,” said Rebecca Clark, CEO of Linc Housing. “That’s a big milestone for us, and we’re housing people that have been on the streets and have been in desperate need of housing.”
Financing for the conversions came primarily from state Project Homekey funds administered by the county, with the Long Beach Housing Authority providing Section 8 rental vouchers for both properties.
Project Homekey is a statewide effort to create permanent, affordable homes by transforming underused hotels, motels and other structures into permanent, affordable and supportive housing, according to a press release.
“We have real momentum here in our city. But what’s most important about this is the kind of housing that this is,” Mayor Rex Richardson said during the event. “We also know that it comes with real, dedicated wraparound support, intensive case management, and support for individuals who need it. That’s where the supportive housing piece comes in.”
Residents of the two sites will receive supportive services, including mental and physical health services, employment counseling and job placement, education, substance use counseling, money management, assistance in obtaining and maintaining benefits, and referrals to community-based services and resources, according to a press release.
“I’m so thankful I can rest,” Stanley said, “I just said I’m going to my room but now I can say I’m going home.”