AmeriCorps -- Hope for the Homeless

On any given night, there are roughly 73,000 homeless people in Los Angeles County. Many of these individuals end up sleeping in cardboard boxes, makeshift tents and doorways. The largest concentration of homeless in Los Angeles, approximately 5,000, and including over 600 children under the age of 12, reside in the downtown central city area commonly known as Skid Row.

There are many programs and missions in the Skid Row area that are designed to meet the immediate and long-term needs of Los Angeles' homeless population. The challenge, however, is twofold; there are not nearly enough shelter beds, and making sure that individuals have knowledge of, and access to, the services that are available. The Los Angeles Central Providers Collaborative (LACPC) — comprised of virtually all of central city's major shelter providers— formed in 2001 to establish and build a network of service providers committed to working together to serve Los Angeles' homeless, and move people more efficiently into shelters and programs.

In 2004, the LACPC received an AmeriCorps grant designed to train 32 members to become advocates for people in the Los Angeles Skid Row community. This Hope for the Homeless grant is unique in its goal to actively recruit those who have been personally affected by homelessness and/or substance abuse. By combining the consortium's significant resources and the life experiences of AmeriCorps members, Hope for the Homeless provides street outreach, program referrals and volunteer services. Members also collect client data to produce monthly, quarterly and yearly aggregated reports.

Hope for the Homeless improves client access to services and more efficiently moves them into shelters and programs.

If you need Help
If you find yourself in need of housing or any other type of assistance please give us a call at our H.E.L.P. (Homeless Emergency Links to Providers) Resource Centers to make a same day appointment to meet with our staff.

We have advocates available Monday through Friday at:

Weingart Access Center – 8:00am - 5:00 pm – Phone # 213-689-2236.
The Midnight Mission – 6:00am – 7:00pm – Phone # 213-624-9258 ext. 1662
VOA Drop-In Center – 8:00am – 5:00pm – Phone # 213-624-4357

AmeriCorps Resources
If you are interested in participating in an AmeriCorps program located in California or any other state, please visit www.americorps.gov

Volunteer Opportunities

If you are interested in volunteering and you live in California, please contact www.californiavolunteers.org

Contact
For more information on the AmerICorps and the Hope for the Homeless programs, please contact:

Kevin Martin
Program Manager
566 S. San Pedro Street
Los Angeles, CA 90013
(213) 689-2282
kevinm@weingart.org

Angela De Los Santos
Senior Program Coordinator
566 S. San Pedro Street
Los Angeles, CA 90013
(213) 689-2283
angelad@weingart.org