More than 7,000 units have been expedited through Los Angeles as Karen Bass continues to cut the homelessness crisis. Under Executive Directive 1 in Los Angeles, eligible projects receive expedited processing, clearances, and approvals through the ED1 Ministerial Approval Process. Having more money to build affordable housing isn’t the only way out of the homeless crisis, and the city of Los Angeles thinks they’re making progress on key components like speeding up the building and permitting process, and saving developers money. “You have the building and safety department, your plan check, you have your transportation review, you have your housing department, your city planning department, your engineering department for the sidewalks,” said Kevin Keller, the senior advisor to Mayor Karen Bass.
With only nine months into the directive, the city says 7,000 units have been expedited, including at The Wilcox in East Hollywood with 62 units of permanent supportive housing for L.A.’s senior citizens, one of the fastest growing populations of the unhoused. The affordable housing developer Wakeland Housing and Development Corp. says it’s now able to open The Wilcox two months early, saving them $1 million that would have gone to interest payments on building loans and builders risk insurance. Bass’ directive shortened the average processing time from months to 47 days. This new implementation of affordable housing is changing the game and narrative for locals in Los Angeles, seniors and the homeless population who seek stability and shelter.
