2nd phase takes place for affordable units for homeless using Prop HHH money

SILVER LAKE, LOS ANGELES (KABC) -- An affordable housing project for the homeless broke ground Wednesday and is the first to use money from Proposition HHH, which was approved by Los Angeles residents in 2016.

The proposition allowed the city to borrow up to $1.2 billion and increase property taxes for construction projects to provide affordable housing for the homeless population.

With construction beginning this month, this second phase of the PATH Metro Villas project incorporates 122 affordable apartments as well as health and mental health clinics.

"PATH Metro Villas is a multi-phase, mixed-use community designed to support ending homelessness," executive director Amy Anderson said. "Since 2013, PATH has successfully connected over 7,500 individuals to permanent housing: veterans, seniors, men and women with disabilities, families and young mothers."

The phase is set to be complete by summer 2019, but city officials said this project will be the first of many similar ones throughout Los Angeles.

"We need this project times 1,000 across the county of Los Angeles," Councilman Mitch O'Farrell said.