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Continuum care facility set to open soon.
by Robert Brennan –
On September 16, The Salvation Army’s Southern California Division rededicated Harmony Hall. Housed in a 1920s era hotel in downtown Los Angeles, Harmony Hall closed its doors several years ago after not meeting modern standards for occupancy required by state and local building codes.
The Salvation Army along with essential corporate and foundation partners including the California Department of Housing and Community Development, The Ahmanson Foundation, and City National Bank spent $2.4 million renovating, upgrading, and turning Harmony Hall into a state-of-the-art facility for men and women in the final stages of recovery from alcohol and drug addiction.
Despite the difficulties posed by renovating a structure that is more than 80 years old, architects and contractors met stringent regulations and made the building compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act.
Harmony Hall is a 60-bed comprehensive drug and alcohol recovery program that will house graduates of The Salvation Army’s two primary programs in downtown Los Angeles Harbor Light and Safe Harbor. When the six-month treatment period is insufficient, they may enter an extended recovery program that includes relapse prevention, skills training, family reunification, and job readiness.
Though the building is now ready for occupancy, an unforeseeable delay stemmed from the budget crisis in the State of California. A state-authorized fire inspection must be completed before occupancy is allowed; however, no inspections are currently scheduled because of the budget.
The Salvation Army in Southern California is looking forward to the day when Harmony Hall will welcome its first clients and help them continue on their road to recovery.
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