History of THe LA COALITION TO END YOUTH HOMELESSNESS

  • The Los Angeles Coalition to End Youth Homelessness (LACEYH) is a group that unites service providers, government agencies, and stakeholders dedicated to supporting homeless youth throughout LA County. LACEYH is led by co-chairs and a Steering Committee consisting of executive leaders from agencies across Los Angeles, including the LA LGBT Center, My Friends Place, Children’s Hospital, Safe Place for Youth, Jovenes, Inc., and others. Membership on the Steering Committee is voluntary and open throughout the year. LACEYH hosts quarterly membership meetings and bi-monthly Steering Committee meetings for sharing resources, best practices, and communication with LAHSA.

  • In August of 2019, Lens Co, led by Dr. Robin Petering and Laura Onash-Vera, formally took over as coordinators of the Los Angeles Coalition to End Youth Homelessness. The formalized contract goal was to increase the capacity, collaboration, and visibility of the coalition.

  • In September of 2019, Lens Co recruited and formed the LACEYH Youth Steering Committee. Young people who are members or hired peer staff of LACEYH affiliated organizations were invited to attend and contribute to 2 hour, youth-only, meetings held at Lens Co headquarters in Arts District. The meetings occurred every other week and had between 6-8 consistent youth in attendance. The initial meetings were spent on planning the LACEYH Summit. Youth were compensated $20 for participation and dinner was provided. Steering committee meetings have continued after the summit and have been related to debriefing the summit, finalizing the Bill of Rights (see below), and advocacy efforts.

  • The 1st Annual Los Angeles Coalition to End Youth Homelessness Policy and Advocacy Summit took place on Friday, November 15th at The California Endowment. The goal of this event was to create a space for youth experiencing homelessness and their allies to come together to discuss the current state of youth homelessness in Los Angeles and to create actionable goals to advocate for systems change in 2020. The event organizers, Robin Petering and Laura Onasch-Vera of Lens Co., wanted to center the summit around and highlight the youth that attended. To do this, they were assisted by seven youths that comprised of a steering committee. This led to the slogan "Young People to the Front." Over 100 people attended.

  • Homeless Youth Bill of Rights: Over two dozen young people spent 1.5 hours discussing their needs within the youth homelessness service system. At the conclusion of the session, they came to a consensus of items that would be included on the Youth Homeless  Bill of Rights. The Bill of Rights was drafted as an inspirational document that identifies the gaps and necessary priorities in order to have a fair and just youth service system. LACEYH organizers intend to use this document as a guide for where and how to advocate for programmatic and systems change in Los Angeles in 2020.

  • Right to Transportation

  • Advertisement of and Transparency with Coordinated Entry System, Homeless Risk Assessment Tools, and Available Resources

  • Homeless Animal Care

  • Trauma-Informed Care

  • Individual Housing Rules and Regulations

  • Cars and Couches Are Not a Home

  • Right to Refusal Without Consequence

  • Access to Overnight Public Restrooms

  • Greater Access to Health Programs and Resources

  • Homeless Sector Workforce Development

  • Policy Accomplishments: In September, the LACEYH steering committee became aware of the California State Homeless Housing, Assistance, and Prevention Program (HHAPP) funding that will be distributed locally. The LACEYH Steering committee and coordinators led an effort to write formal letters to local governing bodies to demand that a greater percentage of the funds than the minimum which is required (8%) be designated to transition-aged youth. LACEYH sent letters directly to the county, city, and the Los Angeles Homelessness Services Authority (LAHSA). The letter was also published publicly online.

    On December 4th, HHAPP recommendations were discussed at the Los Angeles City Council Homelessness & Poverty Committee meeting. Many LACEYH members, including the LACEYH Youth Steering Committee, arrived at City Hall to make public comment on the City's HHAPP Allocation. LACEYH members Charles, Robert, Robin, Travis, Sage, and Trevion, all made a public comment directly to City Councilors encouraging leaders to designate 16% of HHAPP funds to youth experiencing homelessness. Their voices were heard. Within a week, Councilmember Mike Bonin introduced a motion recommending 16% of HHAPP funding be allocated to youth. In January, LACEYH advocates returned to City Hall to publicly support the motion which passed with unanimous committee support.

    On January 21st, County Board Supervisors Hilda Solis and Janice Hahn introduced a motion on the County level to increase HHAPP funds to 18%. They specified these funds be attached to strategy D7 of Measure H funding.  Several LACEYH representatives attended the public board meeting and made comment in support of the motion, which passed with unanimous support. “Too many college students, foster youth, and other young people end up chronically homeless because they did not receive proper support and services early on in life. Today, LA County will change that trajectory,” said Supervisor Solis. “Providing young adults with housing is critical to their safety and will allow them to focus on school, employment, and other opportunities essential to young adulthood. We owe it to our youth to invest in services that will stabilize their lives and put them on a path to success.”

    “Homelessness can be devastating to a young person’s future and youth homelessness is, unfortunately, a growing but invisible problem here in LA County and across the State,” said Supervisor Hahn who co-authored the motion. “I am hopeful that this funding will help us more effectively address the unique problems young people are facing and prevent young people from falling into homelessness in the first place.”

    These two policy actions were directly related to the collective work of LACEYH. In fact, the motions took language and data points directly from the public letter and the public comments made by youth advocates were cited as an impactful effort. Across both motions, funding for TAY in Los Angeles by $20.4 million. COVID-19 has impacted homeless funding across the board, but LACEYH is a critical component in creating a space for youth voices and advocacy.

LACEYH During COVID: Only four months after the initial LACEYH summit, we entered the COVID 19 pandemic. Given the circumstances, the focus of LACEYH pivoted immediately to several things.

  • Immediate relief: LACEYH launched a grocery relief program. We fundraised over $4,000 that was then redistributed to young people experiencing need to purchase groceries or other items.

  • Youth Steering Committee: Continuance of the LACEYH youth steering committee was also a priority. YEB Meetings were held biweekly on zoom with 8 to 10 people in attendance.

  • LACEYH COVID Rapid Needs Assessment: In the early summer of 2020, LACEYH distributed a COVID Rapid Needs Assessment, remotely surveying approximately 100 young people accessing service agencies. Results gave insight to the immediate needs of youth during COVID to inform the coalitions response.

  • Webinars: LACEYH held multiple webinars throughout the pandemic in place of in person coalition meetings.

    LACEYH Needs Assessment: At the end of 2020, a brief needs assessment survey was sent to leadership in participating organizations of the coalition. Policy tracking and advocacy, as well as uplifting youth voices, were identified as the most important aspect of the LACEYH coalition, renewing the focus on these two activities.