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“It’s very big, it’s very big.”

Los Angeles County Supervisor Hilda L. Solis, hosting a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Wednesday morning, June 1, for the new LifeArk project in the city of El Monte, spoke of the enormity of the 19-unit permanent supportive housing complex for individuals transitioning out of homelessness.

“This is beautiful, this is what it’s all about,” said Solis, who represents the First District, which covers the San Gabriel Valley and parts of Los Angeles. “And we need to get more cities to join us, confront this issue of homelessness.

“For all the efforts that we’ve been placing on housing the unhoused, El Monte has been a beacon of hope. But partnering with LifeArk and with our county funding — Measure H, $1 million — shows you what we can do with innovation and people partnering together.”

The interior of one of the 19 new LifeArk units in El Monte is shown here on Wednesday, June 1, 2022. (Photo by Howard Freshman, Contributing Photographer)

The interior of one of the 19 new LifeArk units in El Monte is shown here on Wednesday, June 1, 2022. (Photo by Howard Freshman, Contributing Photographer)

The interior of one of the 19 new LifeArk units in El Monte is shown here on Wednesday, June 1, 2022. (Photo by Howard Freshman, Contributing Photographer)

The interior of one of the 19 new LifeArk units in El Monte is shown here on Wednesday, June 1, 2022. (Photo by Howard Freshman, Contributing Photographer)

L.A. County Supervisor Hilda L. Solis, holding the scissors, is joined on Wednesday, June 1, 2022, by local elected officials and dignitaries involved with the LifeArk housing complex for a ribbon-cutting ceremony in El Monte. (Photo by Howard Freshman, Contributing Photographer)

L.A. County Supervisor Hilda L. Solis speaks at a press conference on Wednesday, June 1, 2022, to officially unveil the LifeArk sustainable housing project in El Monte. (Photo by Howard Freshman, Contributing Photographer)

El Monte councilman Martin Herrera speaks at a press conference on Wednesday, June 1, 2022, to officially unveil the LifeArk sustainable housing project on Tyler Avenue in El Monte. (Photo by Howard Freshman, Contributing Photographer)

Founder and principal designer Charles Wee speaks at a press conference on Wednesday, June 1, 2022, to officially unveil his LifeArk sustainable housing project on Tyler Avenue in El Monte. (Photo by Howard Freshm an, Contributing Photographer)

Three LifeArk prefabricated buildings containing 19-single occupancy units offer housing in El Monte for those transitioning out of homelessness. An exterior view is shown here on Wednesday, June 1, 2022. (Photo by Howard Freshman, Contributing Photographer)

Three LifeArk prefabricated buildings containing 19-single occupancy units (including one for on-site property manager) offer housing in El Monte for those transitioning out of homelessness. An exterior view is shown here on Wednesday, June 1, 2022. (Photo by Howard Freshman, Contributing Photographer)

One of the 19 units will be used for an on-site property manager at the Tyler Avenue complex.

The total cost of the project was $3.6 million, with $1 million of that coming from the Innovation Challenge Grant awarded El Monte from the Los Angeles County Development Authority funded by Measure H.

Measure H was approved by L.A. County voters in March of 2017. It is a 1/4-cent sales tax to raise a projected projected $3.5 billion over 10 years to help prevent and combat homelessness.

Another $2.1 million came from Nonprofit Finance Fund, the balance of $500,000 from owner LifeArk El Monte LLC equity.

LifeArk uses a pre-fabricated modular building system made from a high-density polyethylene, the most produced plastic worldwide. Handsomely designed, the three shared housing units include bedrooms, bathrooms and a kitchen and common living area to go along with a beautiful garden.

The cost of each unit is just under $190,000. Along with housing, inhabitants will be provided wrap-around services — medical and mental healthcare, case management, etc. — via the Illumination Foundation, another partner in the fold.

Paul Cho, Chief Financial Officer for LifeArk, lauds the cost-efficient nature of his company’s structures.

“They cost about $190,000 per unit,” he said. “When you compare that to the L.A. City and Proposition HHH-funded projects, which came out to median per-unit cost of $597,000, you can see that this is a very different type of a project.”

He said Nonprofit Finance Fund provided both construction and permanent lending for the project.

“This being a non-traditional construction, traditional banks would have been very fearful to even touch it, so we really appreciate NFF for stepping forward,” Cho said.

Among the local dignitaries on hand Wednesday was El Monte City Councilman Martin Herrera. He had some emotional words during a news conference ahead of the ribbon-cutting and tour of the complex.

“This is my favorite type of development in the city by far because it is my favorite industry,” he said. “Here we are building lives, we are increasing quality of life for our most vulnerable and we are building human dignity and you just cannot put a dollar value on that.”

On its website, LifeArk says it “exists to create safe, sustainable and affordable homes for people living in low-income, marginalized communities around the world.”

Azusa’s Robert Gonzales was one of three San Gabriel Valley mayors attending Wednesday — the other two were Tony Ding of San Gabriel and Ruth Low of Diamond Bar.

Azusa’s City Council at a recent meeting directed staff to explore ideas for a shelter for homeless, with the idea of spending $1.9 million from its general fund.

Gonzales liked what he saw in El Monte.

“Absolutely,” he said, when asked if he could see his city with such a complex. “This checks all the boxes and at the end of the day, we want to help.”

It’s sustainable, too, Solis noted.

“It’s all made of recyclables,” she said, “so this is where we need to go with climate change.”

El Monte has also used Measure H dollars for a Showers of Hope Program as well as for Project Homekey renovations, rental and utility assistance, motel vouchers and rehousing, El Monte City Manager Alma Martinez said. She said Measure H dollars were used for a variety of services as part of the Mid-Valley Collaborative on Homelessness along with Baldwin Park and South El Monte.

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