New OPCC residents loving their new digs
CLOVERFIELD BLVD. Calling it “a room with a view,” residents of the new Cloverfield Services Center gave the $11 million homeless shelter high marks this week, praising architects, city officials and service provider OPCC for designing a building that is modern, spacious and full of natural light.
The 22,000-square foot facility, which opened with a total of 55 beds for chronically homeless individuals, contrasts considerably from other shelters clients of OPCC’s Daybreak and Safe Haven programs have stayed in, they said. Instead of being dark, cold and uncomfortable, the center is warm, inviting and fosters a sense of pride that should help them transition to independence.
For the most part, residents seemed to love the their new digs, save for the client who had a problem with blankets not being made from natural fibers.
“It’s great,” said Brittany Thompson, a client of Daybreak for the last three months. “It’s a lot bigger, but you still have that sense of community. I like that we have our rooms across from one another so we can mingle a little bit... I’m honored to be a part of this.”
Another woman, wishing to be identified only as Latoya, felt as if her self-esteem had been enhanced simply by walking into the building.
“You can see the blue skies and the sunshine,” she said.“It makes you want to go out (into society) and do better with your life. It shows that there are people who really do care for you.”
This week marked the first time clients were able to move into the facility, which offers not only food and shelter, but a host of classes and counseling. Clients can take yoga and learn how to make jewelry that they can sell at the facility, which is home to Daybreak Designs, a store run by the women at which they can sell their wares.
In addition to those living at the center, 50 to 70 individuals will have access to programs there throughout the day.
The Cloverfield facility represents the first addition of beds to the Westside’s homeless service system in a decade, coming at a time in which the number of homeless people has increased significantly at home and across the nation, said John Maceri, the executive director of OPCC, a network of shelters and services for low-income and homeless youth, adults and families, battered women and their children and people living with mental illness.
“This (facility) is going to have a significant impact on our ability to provide services,” Maceri said back in November, when the center was unveiled. “Not only will this double the number of beds we currently have — and to get people off of the streets you need beds for them — we will also be expanding our services to help even more people in need... Many people’s lives will be changed here.”
Maceri said the facility could not have been possible without help from several partners, including City Hall, state and federal agencies and private foundations, all of which contributed funding to build the services center.
City Hall contributed $7.4 million to the project, which helped OPCC purchase the property and make renovations. The building is owned by City Hall, which is leasing the space to OPCC for $1 a year for the next 55 years.
With Big Blue Bus looking to expand its downtown facility where OPCC currently operates its access center, there was a need to relocate, Maceri said.
A new access center and Swashlock — showers, washers, lockers — facility is currently under construction near the BBB complex and is expected to be completed by the summer of 2007, according to Maceri.
Formerly a boxy, post production facility, warehouse and printshop, the Cloverfield building has been transformed into a livable space by Killefer Flammang Architects, a local firm that specializes in affordable housing and adaptive re-use projects.
At the request of both the clients who will be served at the facility and the businesses and residents situated nearby, the building was remodeled to include high ceilings and plenty of natural light, in addition to a facade that blends in with surrounding structures, according to architect Wade Killefer.
“A major goal of the design is to provide an engaging environment that conveys hope to the residents,”
Killefer said.
That goal was not lost on the residents of the facility as well as those who are former clients of Daybreak, including Stacey Chapleau, who recently moved into an apartment on 18th Street after spending 15 years on the streets.
“With the expansion of the (Daybreak) store and the fact that we have the space to really work without being crowded on top of each other, you really have this sense of independence,” said Chapleau, who volunteers at the facility, teaching clients how to knit. “It makes you realize that just because you have a mental illness, it doesn’t mean you are not capable of doing things on your own and being successful.”
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on January 26, 2007. Read the original PDF.