Russ Hotel, located on San Julian St near Skid Row, offers clean, safe rooms with attentive staff dedicated to supporting guests facing homelessness. Enjoy essential amenities and a warm, welcoming environment in the heart of Los Angeles.
Reviews highlight the hotel’s cleanliness and helpful staff amid its challenging location, with a mixed impression influenced by the surrounding environment.
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Rooms, shared spaces, dining and exterior — grouped so you can skim quickly.
Russ Hotel, located at 517 San Julian St in Los Angeles, stands as a unique refuge in the heart of downtown’s Skid Row. With a modest rating of 3.4, it offers more than just a place to stay—it provides a sanctuary for those navigating difficult circumstances. Its reputation is built not on luxury but on resilience, dignity, and the genuine care of its staff.
Guests often highlight the commitment and warmth of the employees. Steven Delgado praises the cleanliness and how the staff, including Gabriel and the cleaning crew, go above and beyond despite their challenging work environment. This attention to detail, especially in such a tough neighborhood, speaks volumes about the hotel’s core values.
Residents like Queenie Contrina Winder and Jay Ammon convey a sense of hope amid hardship. They find safety and support in the hotel’s environment, noting that the staff—Stanford, Aaron, and David Emmond—offer not only kindness but a pathway to stability. This transforms Russ Hotel from a mere shelter to a stepping stone toward a better future.
Gio Tavanlar captures the emotional essence of Russ Hotel, emphasizing its warmth during cold winters and the comfort of privacy. He reflects on how the hotel changes despair into gratitude, highlighting its deeper meaning beyond physical accommodations.
One cannot overlook the practical amenities, including well-maintained bathrooms and clean rooms, which defy initial impressions. Sage “jst.regg” Smith’s review confirms that despite the harsh surroundings, Russ Hotel fosters an environment where guests can quickly transition to permanent housing.
Russ Hotel stands as a testament to human dignity in a hard place. It embodies the spirit of perseverance and care, supporting those who need it most with compassion and respect. For anyone seeking a genuine, if humble, respite in downtown Los Angeles, Russ Hotel is not just a stay—it’s a statement.
Reviews from travelers who stayed here in the last 12 months, grouped to help you spot the pattern quickly.
The Russ SRO , Gabriel and the entire staff and cleaning crew have earned these 5 stars. My unit was clean and everything is white so u can see dirt easier. Considering we are next to skid row I have yet to see a bug in my room not one. The staff here deal with a lot and are probably not paid what they should be which is why it's important for them to know they are doing a great job. I truly thank them.
It's a nice place to live when your Homeless and the staff Stanford,Aaron & David Emmond are very nice people when I first got here I was very terrified because I never been on skid row. But I did what I supposed to do and I'll be glad when they give Me my key so I can get from down here. I can count on my hands & feet of all the terrible things I've seen and witness I'll have nightmares 4 the rest of my life. But I recommend the Russ Hotel 2 anyone who needs help. Thank U 2 the staff.
I got placed here, in the heart of Skid Row, by my caseworker I the Department of Mental Health. It's a nice location; I like being within downtown LA, although, upon being placed here, it's somewhat easier to get tired of some of the baser cultural effects of homelessness, such as that the streets don't get washed down, except for when it rains, it seems. All in all, I like the location, and the staff is pretty friendly. I'm glad to be here!
Its warm inside in the dead of winter. The wooden bed is softer than the street which you forget about in the privacy of your own room. Not many places can turn the feeling of hopelessness into gratitude. Five stars for this place not for how it is, but what it does. Five stars not for what it features, but for what it means. Those who have passed through "The Russ" as we call it, may not talk about it but The Russ is always close to our hearts.
Don't let the outside look fool you. This place has nice bathrooms and. Clean room. And the staff help you get your own place fast
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