Los Angeles County is set to enhance mental health services by introducing dozens of new treatment beds and supportive housing units at the historic Metropolitan State Hospital campus in Norwalk. Originally opened in 1916, this psychiatric facility once accommodated thousands of patients. Today, it houses around 800 individuals, highlighting a significant decline and an opportunity for revitalization.
In a recent meeting, county supervisors approved a lease agreement with the state for a portion of the sprawling 162-acre campus. This decision follows a bill signed by Governor Gavin Newsom last year, facilitating the lease arrangement. With $65 million in funding from Proposition 1, the county plans to renovate two dilapidated buildings to create 32 treatment beds. According to Kyla Coates, senior justice and mental health deputy for Supervisor Janice Hahn’s office, the urgency of the situation cannot be understated.
“We are facing a crisis,” Coates said. “We cannot have unused empty buildings that are government-owned sitting around. We need to renovate them, reuse them and turn them into places where we can really provide care to those who need it.”
The renovation will establish two facilities, each equipped with 16 subacute beds. This configuration adheres to a federal law known as the Institutions for Mental Disease (IMD) exclusion, which restricts facilities treating adults with mental illness from receiving Medicaid funding if they exceed 16 beds. This structure reflects an ongoing shift away from larger asylum models, which have historically been linked to inadequate care.
The need for additional mental health resources in Los Angeles County is critical. As highlighted in a February 2024 report from a consulting agency hired by the county, subacute beds represent the “most urgent resource need” to address the region’s behavioral health crisis. Many experts assert that the county requires hundreds more beds at this treatment level to adequately serve residents grappling with serious mental illness.
In total, the plan encompasses renovations of six buildings on the Metropolitan State Hospital campus. This initiative will also include the construction of 50 one-bedroom apartments for permanent supportive housing and 70 interim one-bedroom apartments for individuals needing mental health support. Coates envisions the campus transforming into a “state of the art mental health community,” providing a continuum of care where individuals can transition from intensive treatment to stable housing.
“This courtyard space is beautiful,” Coates remarked. “We have visions to have outdoor space where people can gather, watch movies, exercise, and garden.” She emphasized that many of the buildings feature large windows, allowing natural light into communal spaces, while also ensuring that the historical architectural elements are preserved.
Despite the positive outlook, some mental health advocates express concerns. Vanessa Ramos, a representative from Disability Rights California, welcomes the use of the previously unused land but emphasizes the importance of transparency in institutional settings. She advocates for a balance between treatment beds and supportive housing, to prevent individuals from becoming trapped in hospitalization without proper transition options.
“What I would like to see out of the unused land at Metro is for there to really be pairing of treatment beds one-to-one with step-down supports,” Ramos stated. “The stigma is that people living with mental health disabilities don’t recover. And we know that we do recover.”
Eve Garrow, a Senior Policy Analyst and Advocate with the ACLU of Southern California, echoed similar sentiments, expressing concerns that settings like Metropolitan State Hospital might isolate individuals from their communities. “Segregation separates people from their communities, creates an institutional environment that can quickly slip into a culture of discipline and control,” Garrow mentioned.
In response to these concerns, Coates highlighted the campus’s strategic location, which is within walking distance of public transportation and local amenities. This accessibility aims to foster community engagement and integration for residents.
Construction at the Metropolitan State Hospital campus is slated to begin in 2024, marking a significant step toward addressing the mental health needs of Los Angeles County residents. As plans progress, the focus remains on creating a supportive environment that balances treatment with community reintegration.
