HFL Birch Grove Homes is located in Norwalk, California, on the grounds of Metropolitan State Hospital, adjacent to the HFL Cedar Street Homes, and the HFL Elm Street Homes, and opened its doors on March 21, 2007.   Birch Grove was rehabilitated from a vacant, historical building into 20 studio apartments for homeless persons with mental illness.

The apartments are fully furnished, living / dining area, kitchen and bath.  There’s a guard gate at the main entry, visitor’s lounge, laundry, landscaped outdoor area, and marked parking.

Residents pay 30% of their adjusted gross income for rent.   Residents are responsible for their own phone and utilities. 

A part-time residential manager is responsible for routine maintenance.   Qualified case managers meet with residents and assist them with locating community resources to meet individual program needs.

HFL Birch Grove Homes was awarded the Southern California Association of Non-Profit Housing (SCANPH) Project of the Year Award in the Special Needs Category for 2007.  Birch Grove also received the 2008 National Award of Merit from the National Association of Housing & Redevelopment Officials (NAHRO).

Metropolitan State Hospital

In 1913, Governor Hiram Johnson (our 23rd Governor) appropriated authority and funds to create a new Southern California mental hospital  because  of population growth.  The hospital was intended to service Los Angeles and Orange County populations with mental illness.  Metropolitan State Hospital was opened on 80 acres of land as Norwalk State Hospital on February 15, 1916 with 105 patients and 21 employees.  One residential building with two floors housed 80 patients.  The patient population increased from 240 in 1918 to 2500 in 1956, with staff increasing to 654.

Today, the Metropolitan Hospital site is composed of 162 acres and 80 structures.   The historic area of the hospital is located on the eastern boundary with building positioned around a large park area, with trimmed grass and mature trees.  The three buildings leased and renovated by Homes for Life Foundation are part of the hospital’s 21 structure “historic core” and are a state designated historic district and eligible for listing on the National Registry of Historic Places.