Ikea Builds Relationships With Costa Mesa Bridge Shelter

COSTA MESA, CA —What does it take to transform an enormous, empty warehouse into "house beautiful?" A partnership between the city, Ikea Costa Mesa and the elbow grease Trellis volunteers.

The city of Costa Mesa has nearly completed the conversion of an industrial warehouse on Airway Avenue into a 72-bed homeless shelter for men and women, they reported Wednesday. The build-out, costing $11.5 million, should be ready by April, they reported.

Former Project Roomkey hotel residentswill start moving into the facility as early as April, Assistant City Manager Susan Price told the LA Times in a recent interview.

The city partnered with Ikea out of their Costa Mesa store, which donated $85,000 in furnishings.

"We engaged them to see if they'd want to contribute to our program and assist those in need of help," she told the Times.

To that, Ikea responded, "absolutely."

And with the donation came a load of assembly.

Trellis volunteers assembled shelving units, tables, and office furniture, the Times reports.

Ikea's Marketing Manager Briana Lehman discussed the donation.

"It's an honor to be able to partner with the city to provide a better life for many people in need," Lehman told the Times. "We really strive to be a partner in the community."