ELAC Student Housing Pilot

The proposed ELAC Housing Pilot is an innovative, scalable model to address homelessness among LACCD students, particularly the Transitional Age Youth (TAY) and LGBTQ+ populations. By transforming underutilized spaces, such as parking garage rooftops, into vibrant, supportive housing communities, this initiative could provide 120 beds—40 interim and 80 permanent—at one-third of the cost and in half the time of conventional building methods.

This proposal was made possible thanks to the generous support of the Wells Fargo Foundation. Their $250k grant was the catalyst that enabled DignityMoves, Gensler, and ELAC Architecture Students to complete a feasibility analysis, with support from structural and MEP engineers, to confirm the project’s technical viability. Building on that work, we developed two conceptual design packages and refined the project’s cost and schedule assumptions. We submitted a two-option design-and-cost proposal in response to LACCD’s innovative student housing RFP in April 2025.

Key Features of the ELAC Housing Pilot:

• Innovative Use of Space: This proposed project leverages underutilized parking garage rooftops at ELAC to create affordable student housing units.
• Support Services: In partnership with Jovenes, students would have access to comprehensive wraparound services, including mental health support, educational assistance, and job training. Jovenes’ College Success Initiative specifically addresses the crisis of student homelessness, offering college-focused housing and case management services to help students focus on their academic achievements.
• Sustainable Living and Learning: This pilot proposal incorporates sustainable practices such as renewable energy generation through solar panels and urban agriculture via hydroponic grow houses. The project would serve as an educational platform for ELAC students, incorporating sustainable energy and food production to foster a self-sustaining community.