Opportunity for Los Angeles

Located in the heart of Los Angeles’ downtown Central City East community, or commonly known as “Skid Row”, Union Rescue Mission has long been a safe haven and source of hope to its neighbors falling on tough times, losing their homes and living on the streets. Neighbors come to Union Rescue Mission from all across Los Angeles – San Gabriel Valley, Burbank, Long Beach, South LA, San Fernando Valley, West LA, and beyond – seeking not only shelter and a caring embrace, but empowerment and the resources to move out of homelessness.

Women and children now make up more than 41% (23,000) of those homeless in Los Angeles County. Despite this pervasive reality, there is not enough shelter or transitional housing to provide a roof over their head – leaving many women and their children no other option to living and sleeping on the streets. In fact, as of 2007, there still remained 3,677 beds needed for homeless families with children to find transitional housing. In 2008, these beds were still not in existence in Los Angeles County. [1]

Amidst this tragedy, a bright opportunity exists for Los Angeles. Through Hope Gardens Family Center and this campaign:

• homelessness among families will decrease

• transitional housing for families in need will increase

• future community development and leader investment will increase

• long-term solutions to end homelessness will increase

More than just temporary, transitional housing is critical in providing safety and stability children and the skills and support for mothers moving out of homelessness.  Hope Gardens Family Center is a model for empowering single mothers and their children to become leaders in Los Angeles. Each family’s life will speak to the transformation that is possible for all women and children finding themselves homeless today.