JCOD Breaks Ground on New Warm Landing Place Facility Across From Men’s Central Jail
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LOS ANGELES — The Los Angeles County Justice, Care and Opportunities Department (JCOD) joined Los Angeles County Board Chair and First District Supervisor Hilda L. Solis, Los Angeles County Public Works, Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, Los Angeles City local leaders and community partners today to break ground on the new Warm Landing Place Facility, marking the start of construction on a dedicated reentry services and short-term housing facility directly across from Men’s Central Jail.
The 13,000-square-foot, three-level facility at 955 N. Vignes St. in downtown Los Angeles, will expand JCOD’s ability to connect individuals leaving custody with immediate support at a critical point in their transition back into the community. The facility is designed to operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week and provide voluntary services including housing support, behavioral health resources, health screenings, counseling and other pathways toward long-term stability. When complete, the facility will become Los Angeles County’s first dedicated post-release navigation center specifically designed to support people leaving incarceration.
“Reentry begins the moment someone walks out the doors of a jail,” said Los Angeles County Board Chair and First District Supervisor Hilda L. Solis. “We must put care first and make sure people leaving custody have a clear path forward. That is why I have worked to advance the Warm Landing Place program, connecting people to housing, health care, behavioral health services and other critical resources at a pivotal moment in their transition. Today’s groundbreaking is an important step toward making that commitment a permanent reality.”
The new facility builds on JCOD’s Warm Landing Place program, which launched in June 2024, to meet people immediately after release from County custody at the downtown Los Angeles jail complex. JCOD staff connects participants to voluntary services that address immediate needs including interim housing, transportation, food, water, hygiene supplies, behavioral health support, substance use referrals, employment resources and other services.
Since its launch, Warm Landing Place has engaged more than 12,000 people returning to the community from County custody. The program has also expanded its presence near the downtown jail complex with a dedicated service trailer adjacent to the Inmate Reception Center and a nearby 29-bed short-term transitional housing site with supportive services.
“Warm Landing Place was created around a simple principle: People returning to the community should be met with resources, dignity and support from the moment they are released. This is how we reduce recidivism and keep our communities safe,” said JCOD Director Judge Songhai Armstead (Ret.). “We started by meeting people at the point of release and have continued expanding the services and support available to them. This new facility gives us a permanent, purpose-built space to expand that work and help more people build a foundation for long-term stability.”
“The Sheriff’s Department is proud to partner with JCOD in providing individuals with the resources and support they need for a successful transition back into our communities. By working together to create pathways to stability and opportunity, we can help reduce recidivism, strengthen our communities, and enhance public safety,” said Sheriff Robert G. Luna.
The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors approved the acquisition of the Vignes Street property in May 2024. In March 2026, the Board formally established the Warm Landing Place Facility capital project and authorized Public Works to move forward with design and preconstruction.
Public Works is delivering the project through a Progressive Design-Build agreement with Abbott Construction LLC. The project includes demolition of the existing single-story structure on the property and construction of the new facility.
“LA County is breaking new ground, not only on a single project, but in the way we build for justice-involved individuals,” said Los Angeles County Public Works Director Mark Pestrella, P.E. “Together, we are using trauma-informed design and an innovative Design-Build delivery to create a safe, restorative environment for some of the County’s most vulnerable residents—turning thoughtful engineering into dignity, support and a pathway to long-term stability.”
Earlier this year, JCOD was selected to receive a conditional state grant award of more than $8.5 million from the California Department of Health Care Services through Bond Behavioral Health Continuum Infrastructure Program (BHCIP) Round 2: Unmet Needs. The funding will support expanded behavioral health infrastructure at the new facility, including 20 new peer respite beds for individuals in need of short-term stabilization and support.
For more information about JCOD and its programs and services, visit jcod.lacounty.gov.
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