Los Angeles Councilman calls for reopening of St. Vincent Hospital

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Los Angeles Councilman Mitch O’Farrell launched a petition to reopen St. Vincent Hospital as a center to treat people experiencing homelessness.

“It’s time to reopen St. Vincent Hospital in service of the greatest crisis of our time – homelessness,” said O’Farrell during a press conference outside the medical center, which closed its doors in 2020 after more than a century of operation.

The closure came after its previous owner, Verity Health System, filed for bankruptcy in 2018.

Located at the intersection of S. Alvarado St. and W. 3^rd St. in the Westlake area, the building was brought by Dr. Patrick Soon-Shiong, the billionaire owner of Los Angeles Times, who outbid Los Angeles County for the property.

“During that time, the City has tried to work with Dr. Soon-Shiong. Despite our best efforts, the facility is still empty. That a medical facility with nearly 400 beds sits empty, while people live and die in squalor on our streets, is unacceptable,” said O’Farrel, who urged Dr. Soon-Shiong to work with the City. “There are too many lives at stake,” he added.

In a statement, the transplant surgeon and bioscientist, said he was open to discussions over the vacant facility.

“I agree that medical care and mental health services are important issues in confronting the homelessness crisis,” Soon-Shiong said. “I look forward to the opportunity to discuss this in-depth with members of the City Council.”

Kerry Morrison, founder of mental health care organization Heart Forward, also called for the reopening of the medical center.

“St. Vincent has the capacity to provide a total of 500 beds for people living with serious mental illness, as well as our growing elderly population, who are otherwise not served by our traditional affordable housing continuum,” Morrison said. “This is an opportunity to lead by example in showing how the private sector could step up to the plate to collaborate with government partners and not turn a blind eye to the suffering of the unsheltered.”