Neighbors erupt as out-of-state addicts move into Santa Monica sober living facility overnight

A sudden overnight shift of out‑of‑state addicts into a rogue sober‑living facility on Ocean Avenue ignited strong reactions from both Santa Monica residents and city workers. The newcomers were moved into 413 Ocean Avenue, once a senior‑living building offering sweeping ocean views, on Nov. 25. Within hours, trip updates on neighborhood chat groups swelled with questions over who had moved in and why nobody had been warned.

Mayor Lana Negrete first raised the alarm on Instagram and later told The Post, “there were people coming in.” She stressed her priority is preventing vulnerable individuals from being “shuffled into unsafe, unlicensed spaces.” Negrete emphasized that people deserve dignity, stability, and proper oversight, and that she is pushing policy reforms to stop this from happening again.

A longtime Ocean Avenue resident—who chose to remain anonymous out of fear of retaliation—described the scene as “immediate chaos” and said there were people fighting, smoking, and an excess of noise.

Greg Morena, a former councilmember who lives down the block, recounted that he saw the door open and “we saw people moving in. We’re like, ‘Hey, the last time we checked, there was no certificate of occupancy, there was no new business,’” when he approached the site.

Morena reminded residents that zoning laws require public notice whenever a property’s use changes, such as through a conditional use permit. “They did zero outreach. None. Any change of use is supposed to trigger public notice,” he explained.

City officials said a multi‑department inspection team arrived at 413 Ocean Avenue Wednesday afternoon to assess the facility. On‑site staff informed inspectors that the program was to operate as a sober‑living home. However, the city noted that the building was “not in good shape” and unfit for residential use.

“Staff were unaware they were operating an unpermitted facility,” the city said. “They’ll start moving people out under city direction.” Some displaced residents, including those who were brought in from other states, have already been transferred to a Thousand Oaks facility, and the city is working to clear the building.

City officials will send formal letters to the property owner, developer, operator and on‑site staff that reiterate the Notice to Vacate, tenant relocation rules, updated citation fines, and next steps. By Monday, the facility was clear of occupants.

The surprise during the Thanksgiving period struck a chord because the neighborhood had just weathered a similar shock. In late October, residents found out that 413 and 825 Ocean Avenue were slated for a county mental‑health housing program intended to house 49 people with behavioral‑health needs. The county announced the plan with very little notice, and neighbors only learned of the move when a late‑night update declared that residents were coming in soon.

Mayor Negrete publicly criticized the county rollout, noting she lives near three comparable facilities and had never received either a heads‑up or a community meeting. Los Angeles County Supervisor Lindsey Horvath later admitted that communication had fallen short.

The October episode galvanized the community. Residents formed Santa Monica Neighbors—an organization now boasting hundreds of members. “We found out the first time the same way, after the fact,” Morena said. “We didn’t know much about these facilities, and neither did the neighborhood groups. We weren’t given any information. None.”

Negrete told The Post that she will not let operators take advantage of gaps in oversight or transparency. “I’m not going to hide behind policy narratives that aren’t serving my community,” she said. “We have to call out unethical tactics that exploit vulnerable people and the neighborhoods they’re suddenly placed into. Transparency is the only way to protect both, and I’m pushing a directive to make sure this never happens again.”

Morena clarified that neighbors are not against recovery or mental‑health housing but object to secretive, unpermitted operations shoved into residential areas without community input. “When neighbors are involved, these facilities do great,” he observed. “But when you skip zoning, skip safety, skip the process, you get this.”

“It takes a community to police a neighborhood,” Morena repeated. “We’re watching.”