LA Philanthropy Watch

Nearly four thousand people gathered in Exposition Park on Saturday to participate in HomeWalk 2009 – a walk to end homelessness.

Los Angeles is the homeless capital of the United States – with more homeless individuals and families than any other city in the country.  United Way of Greater Los Angeles, with several partners, is focused on finding long-term permanent solutions through two models: providing rapid re-housing for families in need – with help for them as they transition back into permanent affordable housing; and offering supportive housing – that is, subsidized housing with on-site health care, mental health care, and case management services – for chronically homeless individuals with disabilities.

Stewart Kwoh, President and Executive Director of Asian Pacific American Legal Center of Southern California and United Way Board member, spoke at the beginning of HomeWalk.  Other speakers included City Councilman Bernard Parks and County Supervisors Zev Yaroslavsky and Mark Ridley-Thomas.

The United Way of Greater Los Angeles commissioned researchers from USC’s Center for Community Health Studies at the Keck School of Medicine and from Housing Works to conduct a comparative study of the social cost of managing chronic homelessness.  The conclusion: it can be less expensive to provide permanent supportive housing – with subsidies and coordinated on-site services – than to cycle homeless individuals through emergency rooms, drug treatment facilities, jail, and back onto the streets.  This solution also benefits chronically homeless individuals – providing the stability that gives them a measure of control over their lives.

Housing Works is a nonprofit that embraces the Housing First model – “Whatever it takes!” -  of assisting chronically homeless individuals who suffer from mental illness, drug dependency or other disorders.  The idea, which research over the past two decades suggests is an effective approach, is to begin by getting people into their own housing – and then to focus on providing the social services they need.  The United Way of Greater Los Angeles has dedicated itself to fighting poverty by meeting basic needs (such as homes for the homeless and health insurance for children), improving educational achievement (with successful transitions from middle to high school to college), and increasing financial stability (through job training and improved literacy).

H/t: Joel John Roberts at LA’s Homeless Blog via Raja Abdulrahim at L.A. Now.