Rancho homeless housing comes in at $1.4 million over budget

Transitional housing at Rancho Los Amigos cost $1.4 million more than anticipated. (Photo by Eric Pierce)

DOWNEY — The cost to build transitional housing for the homeless at Rancho Los Amigos National Rehabilitation Center is $1.4 million more than initially budgeted.

The L.A. County Board of Supervisors will vote Tuesday on the budget increase, which would bring the total project cost to $4.8 million.

In 2020, supervisors voted to convert Buildings 601-602 on the county-owned hospital into interim housing for up to 80 people.

The 15,000 sq. ft. structure was converted to dormitories, with entertainment space, outdoor seating areas, and other areas for ancillary and administrative services.  

Officials with the county’s Department of Public Works, however, determined that the construction cost exceeded the approved budget, blaming “unforeseen conditions and COVID-19 material/equipment price escalation.”

The “unforeseen conditions” included replacement of the entire electrical systems and HVAC ducts due to asbestos contamination and limited power availability requiring low power systems, which are more expensive.

Officials said the $1.4 million increase will be offset by a corresponding increase in federal coronavirus relief funds received by the county.