LA County investing $100 million for mental health services by leasing empty state facilities

March 8, 2026 - 17:37

Local leaders have broken ground on a transformative project to convert long-empty state buildings at the Metropolitan State Hospital in Norwalk into a comprehensive mental health facility for Los Angeles County. This initiative represents a major $100 million investment by the county to expand and modernize its behavioral health care infrastructure.

The plan involves leasing the dormant state-owned properties to create a centralized campus for treatment and support services. This strategic move aims to address the critical shortage of mental health resources across the region by activating existing, but unused, public assets. The new facility is expected to provide a continuum of care, offering urgent and ongoing services to residents in need.

Officials emphasize that this project is a direct response to the growing mental health crisis, promising to deliver accessible, high-quality care in a dedicated environment. By repurposing these buildings, the county avoids the longer timeline and higher costs associated with entirely new construction, aiming to bring services online more efficiently. The development underscores a significant commitment to building a more robust and responsive public health system for the community's future.