By Kevin Herrera
Daily Press Staff Writer

SANTA MONICA BLVD. Mental health provider Step Up on Second is hoping things get better the second time around.

After opposition from Sunset Park residents led the city manager to deny Step Up a $450,000 loan, the Santa Monica-based agency had to abandon a plan in November to house young men and women with mental illness in a triplex near John Adams Middle School.

At the time, residents felt locating the transitional housing program in a residential area near a school was inappropriate and strongly voiced their opposition to City Hall. Step Up tried to work with the community, hosting or attending at least two town hall forums to discuss the project, but when it was clear support for the project wasn’t there, Step Up put it on hold.

Until now.

Tod Lipka, the chief executive officer of Step Up, announced Tuesday — during Mental Illness Awareness Week — that the agency is close to closing escrow on a current motel, soon to be Daniel’s Village, an eight-unit transitional home for young people ages 18 to 28 who are in the early stages of mental illness.

Situated on the 2600 block of Santa Monica Boulevard — a busy commercial corridor removed from local school campuses — the $2.4 million project is being funded largely by the city of Santa Monica, which is contributing just over $2 million.

“We are particularly targeting young adults at a formative time in their life when the illness is an obstacle,” Lipka said. “This is when they are learning life skills and independent living skills — key factors that can lead to a life of greater self-sufficiency. In general, our whole goal and focus with Daniel’s Village is early intervention, support and education in hopes of reducing the likelihood of early symptoms and severe illness that so often occurs and then becomes a lifelong struggle.”

In addition to supportive services such as job training and counseling, the Village will offer permanent housing for individuals who currently living on the streets or are in danger of becoming homeless, Lipka said.

The Village will replace the Village Motel, which has operated at 2624 Santa Monica Boulevard for more than 50 years, according to motel manager Al Mora, who believes the motel is the last of it’s kind on Route 66 in Santa Monica.

“It’s kind of sad to see it go, but the owner is an older man who just feels it’s the right time to sell and get out of the business,” Mora said.

It’s not as if the motel wasn’t attracting customers. Mora, who has worked as the motel manager for the last seven years, said the place is usually 90 percent full, mostly with tourists looking for an inexpensive place to stay while in Santa Monica. The rates are $75 a night Sunday through Thursday and $85 Friday and Saturday, Mora said.

“It’s affordable and the clientele is pretty decent … Nice people,” Mora said. “I’ve had people from Europe stay here and then send their brothers, sisters, cousins and on down the line.”

Mora lives at the motel and is hoping to stay on as manager when Daniel’s Village opens. He said he has experience working with those suffering from a mental illness.

Lipka said he is talking with Mora about staying at the motel, at least for the next few months while Step Up hosts community meetings and prepares for construction.

In addition to the resident manager, Lipka said Daniel’s Village will have one case manager dedicated to working with clients on site. Residents will be actively involved in programs and services and some will be attending school or working.

“While this will be permanent housing,” Lipka said, “we, quite frankly, expect the young people to move on to bigger and better things.”

kevinh@smdp.com